PARSVANATHA or PARSVA was the founder of Jainism, who lived from about 872 BC to about 772 BC in India. His life was similar to that of Buddha's. His father was a local ruler. He married, but when he was 30 he renounced his marriage and worldly possessions. He wandered India for seventy years teaching and gathering followers. Parsva was the 23rd Jain Saint according to Jains.

The 24th and last Jain Saint was VARDHAMANA also called MAHAVIRA (Great Hero) or JINA (Victor). Jainism takes its name from Jina who lived from about 598 BC to about 526 BC. Jains (Jainas) are followers or children of the VICTOR. His life was like PARSAVA's. MAHAVIRA married, had children, and at age 30 rejected his former life. He traveled India naked for 12 years, with no possessions, fasting. Fasted to death at 72. MAHAVIRA supposedly took "Five Great Vows":

(1) To not kill any living thing.

(2) To never lie.

(3) To not steal.

(4 To not give way to sexuality or to sensuality.

(5) To never form worldly attachments of any sort.

Jain scripture is SHVETAMBARA, written about 1000 years after MAHAVIRA lived. It related details about MAHAVIRA's life & hos vows.

Jainism rejects the idea of a supreme being (God), even of creation. The universe is eternal & uncreated. It always has been & always will be.

2. Karma is a subtle form of matter, it is not energy as in Hinduism. Matter generally is made up of eternal particles, atoms that combine to form gross matter. Karma-matter is made up of Karma-particles. A person accumulates Karma because Karma-particles mix with a person's Jiva. In this way, the Jiva is literally weighed down & consigned to this earthy existence.

3. At death, the Jiva passes to a new stage of existence, higher or lower based on the Jiva / Karma that is transmigrating. A Jiva with a great Karma attached migrates downward, perhaps even to hell depending on accumulated Karma. A Jiva with lesser Karma migrates upward.

Jains join the faith by professing faith in the religion of the Saints, the Tirthankaras and by taking 12 vows.

1. Strict Ahimsa - never take life, to never destroy a Jiva.
2. Never lie or exaggerate.
3. Never steal.
4. Never be unfaithful to your spouse, to never have unchaste thoughts.
5. Limit wealth by giving away extra possessions to a worthy beneficiary, such as a hospital, monastery, or animal hospital.
6. Limit chances of transgressions by, for example, not traveling unnecessarily.
7. Limit the number of personal possessions.
8. Guard against unnecessary evils.
9. Observe periods of sinless meditation.
10. Observe special periods of limitations.
11. Be monastic for some period of time during life.
12. Give alms to the monks.

Jains have temples which usually contain statues of the Jain Saints. Statues are naked in Digambara temples, while Svetambara statues are loin-clothed. Temple rituals include food offerings and incense burnings. Temples often are adorned with the Jain swastika symbol.