000,000 persons. Jainism,Ajivika, andBuddhismarose in the 6th cent. B.C. as protests against the overdeveloped ritualism ofHinduism, particularly its sacrificial cults, and the authority of the Veda. Jaina tradition teaches that a succession of 24 tirthankaras (saints...
During the thirty years of life he spent in propagating his teachings and helping his followers on the spiritual path, Mahavira attracted the attention of many rich merchants, financiers, kings, queens, princes, and noblemen. His personal charisma, family background and relationship with many royal...
I have no idea how many other volumes there will be. I will be particularly interested to see how they cover those religions which have a long history of involvement in India, but have only tiny minorities of followers - Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, etc. The editor of this journal...
Both of them maintained a clear distinction between the lay followers and the more serious, establishing distinct rules and percepts for each of the categories according to their needs and aspirations. They used Prakrit, the language of the common people, rather than Sanskrit, for the propagation ...
During the thirty years of life he spent in propagating his teachings and helping his followers on the spiritual path, Mahavira attracted the attention of many rich merchants, financiers, kings, queens, princes, and noblemen. His personal charisma, family background and relationship with many royal...
Mahavira taught that people can save their souls from the contamination of matter by living a life of extreme asceticism and by practicing nonviolence toward all living creatures. Thisadvocacyof nonviolence encouraged his followers, monastic and lay, to become strong advocates ofvegetarianism. Mahavira...