According to Jain Dharma:

1. Jainism is anādi (beginningless)

- Jain Acharyas clearly say: Jain Dharma is without a beginning and without an end. - Tirthankars (like Bhagwan Rishabhdev, Ajitnath, etc.) have been coming since countless time‑cycles. - So from the Jain point of view, Jain principles (ahimsa, anekant, aparigrah, karma theory, etc.) are not “started” at any historical date – they are eternal truths of the universe.

1. What about Hinduism?

- “Hinduism” as a word is relatively new; traditionally people spoke of Vedic Dharma / Sanatan Dharma. - Many Hindu traditions also call their Dharma anādi (beginningless). - Historically, Vedic literature available to us and Jain literature both go very far back in time, and their followers lived in the same broad geographic area for thousands of years.

1. If you ask: “chronologically, which is older?”

- Modern historians can only talk about available texts and archaeological evidence, which is limited and keeps changing with new discoveries. - Jain Dharma itself does not define its age by such records; it says Dharma is eternal and only prakāśak (revealer) Tirthankars change in each time-cycle. - So from a pure Jain philosophical standpoint, asking “which religion is older – Jainism or Hinduism?” does not fully fit, because: - Both claim great antiquity. - Jainism specifically teaches that true Dharma is timeless, not founded by any one person at a particular date.

Simple takeaway (from Jain view):

• Jain Dharma is beginningless and eternal.
• Comparing “which is older, Jainism or Hinduism?” in historical years is a human, limited way of looking at something which Jainism considers anādi (without beginning).