Are Jains Hindu?
No. Jainism is a distinct Dharma from Hinduism.
Key points:
- Jainism is an ancient Indian religion with its own path to liberation (moksha) through right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct.
- It centers on the teachings of the 24 Tirthankaras, not on a creator God. Jains emphasize ahimsa (non-violence) as the highest principle.
- Hinduism is a different Dharma with its own gods, scriptures, and practices. There are cultural overlaps in India, but philosophically and organizationally Jainism is separate.
- Within Jainism, there are two main sects: Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras, which have some differences in scriptures, rituals, and interpretive traditions, but both profess the same core Jain aims and ethics.
If you’d like, I can explain how Jain beliefs differ from common Hindu concepts like dharma, karma, and moksha in more detail.