Ancient Indian tradition advocated that the hardest victory is over the self.
“The soul which has perfect perception, perfect knowledge, infinite bliss, and infinite power, is a perfect saint, and being self-manifested, is known as Jina-deva”, from Paramatma-Prakasha. Jainism states that there are 24 ‘Jinas’ of our age who guide humankind. The last ‘Jina’ is Mahavira ( Great Hero) who in popular mind is considered the founder of Jainism.
Mahavira was born Vardhaman in the 6th cent BCE. His father was a ruler in ancient Vaishali republic, in present day Bihar. He is said to have systematized the teachings of the 24 Jinas as Jainism.
The picture is of Mahavira.
Source: Jagmanderlal Jaini, ‘Outlines of Jainism’

“A Tirthankara (Guide) shows broad fording-place of virtue, the best of all, reaching which men overcome sorrow.” (Brihat Srayambhu Stotra). The word Tirtha (pilgrimage) is used in a similar sense – it is a place which helps us cross over – winning over the cycle of birth and death. Mahavira was the 24th and final Tirthankara in the 6th cent BCE. The 23rd Tirthankara, Parsvanatha lived 250 years before Mahavira. Historians are not certain about the exact identity of the first 22 Tirthankaras. The 22nd Tirthankara Neminath is said to be a cousin of Sri Krishna. The 1st Tirthankara, Rsabhanatha, Rishabhanatha or Vrsabha finds repeated mention in the Rig Veda. 22 of the 24 Tirthankaras are said to belong to the Ikshvaku dynasty of Sri Rama.
The picture from Karkala is of Tirthankaras.
Source: Jagmanderlal Jaini, ‘Outlines of Jainism’; OP Tandon ‘Jaina Shrines in India’

Jainism prescribes a path to liberation (Moksha) : Samyag Darshan – Right perception, Samyag Jnän – Right knowledge, Samyag Chäritra – Right conduct.
Right perception creates an awareness of reality or truth. Right knowledge impels the person to proper action. Proper conduct leads him to the attainment of total freedom. They must coexist in a person if one is progress on the path of liberation or moksha. Kaivalya is the highest state of moksha – absolute aloneness (keval – alone). Note how the teaching is consistent with the paths defined in other traditions such as Hinduism, Zoroastrianism & Buddhism.
The picture is Ranakpur temple in Rajasthan.

As part of right conduct, Jains take the five vows : Ahimsa (Non violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (Non stealing), Aparigraha (Non possession) & Brahmacharya (Celibacy). The monks strictly follow these as ‘mahavratas’ while common people have a practical approach as ‘anuvratas’ (lesser vows).
Common Jains are enjoined to avoid animal meat (ahimsa), not lie in business deals (satya), not take anything beyond what is there in a contract (asteya), hold their business assets as trustees of society (aparigraha) & strictly be faithful in marriage (brahmacharya). Hinduism is greatly influenced by these common Jain practices.
The picture is Kundalpur in Bihar, one of the places believed to be the birthplace of Mahavira.

All Indian traditions (except Charvaka) believe in the law of karma & rebirth. One’s actions have consequences for one’s life, not just in the present one but in multiple lives. Hindus loosely believe that karma is the law of justice (as you sow, so shall you reap). For Buddhists it is the ethical intent that causes rebirth even when there is no atman.
As per Jains, every individual (animals and plants too) is a pure spirit (jiva) which is capable of liberation. But by our actions and thoughts we cover this pure spirit with the gross material (pudgala) of karma. This obscures our knowledge and limits our freedom and ties us down to one life after another. By following the right path, we shed the karma. It can be argued that in Jainism, karma is the driving force of the universe.
The picture is Parsvanath temple in Khajuraho

Svetambara’ means ‘dressed in white’ as their monks wear two pieces of white cloth. ‘Digambara’ means ‘dressed in the sky’ as their monks renounce all possessions, including clothes.
Around 300BCE, there was a prolonged famine in Bihar where Mahavira originally preached. Some Jain monks, led by Bhadrabahu, moved southwards. It is said that these monks were more ascetic than those who stayed behind and the two groups drifted apart as Digamabaras & Svetambaras.
Later, Svetamabaras developed sects like ‘sthanakwasi’ who strictly reject idol worship and pray in simple houses (sthanak) and ‘terrapanthi’ who venerate a guru living at his home (dera – home). Most Jains visit temples where idols of the tirthankaras are venerated, as guides and not gods. Some Hindu deities are also revered.
Jains think of Saraswati as Shrutadevata, the embodiment of all knowledge preached by the Jinas (teachers) and the Kevalins (liberated souls). Her figure can be seen in Jain temples of Western India.
The picture is of Bahubali at Srvanbelagola in Karnataka.
Source: sarmaya.in

Mahavira preached in the Bihar region and the Prakrit used by the common people there was Ardha-Magadhi. At the time of Mahavira’s moksha, only two of his senior disciples were alive. Indrabhuti & Sudharman systematized his teachings into 14 oral ‘Purva’ texts. With a severe famine in Bihar 200 years after Mahavira, the Purva texts were lost as monks shifted to West & South India. Historians suggest that the extant texts were reconstituted into 12 ‘Anga-Agam’ texts at Vallabhi in Gujarat in 460CE in the ancient Ardha-Magadhi tongue.
There are further 33 Agam texts which some Jains accept. Ardha-Magadhi is no longer spoken though most Jains today know at least some of the prayers in the ancient solemn language. Post Gupta period, a lot of Jain commentaries were composed in Sanskrit too.
The picture is Dilwara temple in Mt Abu in Rajasthan

Translated literally, ‘Anekantavada’ means “no-one-perspective-ism.” It refers to multiplicity and relativity of views. A related concept is ‘Syadavada’, all inferences are conditional, dependent on context – syad means maybe.
Understanding of any truth requires many viewpoints and the use of ‘saptabhangi’ (seven propositions) logic. The seven possible answers to a problem are – Is; Is not; Is and is not; Is inexpressible; Is and is inexpressible; Is not and is inexpressible; is, is not and is inexpressible. The story of five blind men and an elephant is in Hindu, Buddhist & Jain texts. However Jains specifically use it to demonstrate their philosophy.
The picture is Parsvanath deity at Khajuraho

The phrase means, “If I have hurt you knowingly or unknowingly, I seek your forgiveness.” While forgiveness should be requested as soon as one realizes, there is an annual repentance day ‘samvatsari pratikraman.’ The day is part of the popular Svetambara festival ‘paryushan.’ It is celebrated over a period of eight or ten days. It generally falls in the months of August-September, overlapping with Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. ‘Pari’ means ‘by all ways’ and ‘ushan’ means ‘to abide by one’s true self.’ During the festival days, there is a conscious effort to minimise outer activities and a greater focus is placed on religious and spiritual practices. There are public recitation of scriptures.
The picture is Gopeshwar complex at Gwalior
Source: srmd.org

For the Jains, Diwali commemorates Mahāvīra‘s final liberation and corresponds to the beginning of the new year. It celebrates two apparently contradictory features – the desirability of renouncing the world and of worldly values such as wealth and well-being. Other important Jain festivals are Mahavir Jayanti – birth of Mahavira, Akshaya Tritya – giving of alms for first time to the 1st Tirthankara Rishabha, Paryushan – Sermons & Fasting and Kartika Purnima – End of rainy season and start of travels for monks.
The picture is 1000 pillared Basadi (temple) at Moodbidri in Karnataka, knows as Jaina Kashi.
Source: jainpedia.org

Shatrunjaya Hill in Palitana, Gujarat, is a sacred site containing hundreds of shrines. Rishabha, the 1st Tirthankara gave his first sermon on the hilltop. The temples have been built over 900 years from 11th cent CE onwards. It was destroyed by Turks in 1311 CE. The saint Jinaprabhasuri restored them to their glory.
Jains have many famous tirthas & temples. Girnar in Gujarat is associated with the 22nd tirthankara Neminath. Parasnath, Jharkhand is where 20 Tirthankaras attained liberation. Srvanbelagola, Karnataka has the incredible statue of Bahubali. He is the son of Rishabha and younger brother of Bharat, after whom the country is named. Mount Abu in Rajasthan has the majestic marble Dilwara temples. Ranakpur in Rajasthan is one of the most ornate temples in India.
The painting is of Shatrunjaya Hill in Mumbai Airport museum.
Source: Gujarat Tourism

The great Jain savant Vimalasuri  retold the Ramayana in  Maharashtri prakrit in the 1st-2nd cent CE. It was translated into Sanskrit as Padmapuran. Jains called Rama as Padma to distinguish him from Balarama (Krishna’s brother) who is also revered.

Nagachandra, also known as Abhinava Pampa, wrote the first Ramayana in Kannada based on Vimalasuri. It was in 11^th Century CE. Pampa Ramayana is celebrated for the nuanced use of Kannada.  As Non-violence is a key Jaina principle, Lakshmana becomes the slayer of Ravana rather than Rama.

The picture is of the famous Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala, whose trustees are Jains.

Source: shastriyakannada.org