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deities, places of worship and pilgrimages, and its own festivals and fairs. The organized religious group (samgha) consists of ascetics and householders of both genders.
Any one individual did not found the present form of Jainism. It is a religion, which developed over a long period of time and then acquired its own distinctive status within the broad Indian system. Its latest prophet, Lord Mahāvīra, was a contemporary of Lord Buddha more than 2500 years ago; he lived in the same Indian state of modern Bihar, as did Lord Buddha. Lord Mahāvīra was the 24" prophet. The 23", Lord Pārsvanātha was 250 years ago before him and the 22nd, Lord Neminātha, a contemporary of Lord Krşņa of the Hindus, was at least more than two thousand years before the 23" prophet.
The Sanskrit word "JAIN” means the followers of the JINAS those who purified their self by conquering their inner enemies and passions such as anger, greed, ego, deceit, attachment, aversion, hatred etc. and attained complete perfection and omniscience.
Jainism is well known in India but because of its non-missionary nature, it is relatively much less known outside, although its principles of non-violence and intellectual relativity are quite well recognized. In the XX century, the most vibrant and illustrious example of Jain influence was that of Mahatma Gandhi, acclaimed as the Father of the Indian Nation. Gandhi's spiritual friend and mentor, Śrīmad Rājachandra, was a Jain. The two great men corresponded, until Rajachandra's death, on issues of faith and ethics. The central Jain teaching of ahimsă (non-violence) was the guiding principle of Gandhi's civil disobedience in the cause of freedom and social equality. His ecological philosophy found apt expression in his observation that the greatest work of humanity could not match the smallest wonder of nature.
Nearly four decades ago, my professional activities led me to take my abode in the United States of America. Here, I met numerous
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