Here are 200 simple, study-friendly questions on Jain Dharma, organized by theme.

Fundamentals 1) What does the word “Jain” mean? 2) Who is a Jina and what is a Tirthankar? 3) What is the core message of Jain Dharma? 4) What are the three jewels (Ratnatraya)? 5) What is Samyak Darshan (right faith)? 6) What is Samyak Jnan (right knowledge)? 7) What is Samyak Charitra (right conduct)? 8) What is Ahimsa and why is it central in Jainism? 9) How is Jain Dharma different from merely being vegetarian? 10) What is the meaning of Dharma in Jain context?

Tattvas (Fundamental Realities) 11) What are the Nine Tattvas? 12) What is Jiva (soul)? 13) What is Ajiva (non-soul)? 14) What is Punya (merit) and Papa (demerit)? 15) What is Asrava (inflow of karma)? 16) What is Bandha (bondage of karma)? 17) What is Samvara (stoppage of karma)? 18) What is Nirjara (shedding of karma)? 19) What is Moksha (liberation)? 20) How do the Tattvas connect to everyday conduct?

Anekantavada and Nayavada 21) What is Anekantavada (non-one-sidedness)? 22) What is Syadvada (conditional predication)? 23) What are Nayas (viewpoints) in Jain logic? 24) How does Anekantavada promote tolerance? 25) What is the difference between absolute and partial truth in Jainism? 26) How is Syadvada expressed through “Syat” statements? 27) Why is stand-point (naya) important for understanding reality? 28) How does Anekantavada relate to non-violence in thoughts? 29) What is the relation between Anekantavada and modern dialogue? 30) How do Nayavada and Syadvada complement each other?

Karma Theory 31) What is the nature of karmic matter (karma pudgala)? 32) How does karma bind to the soul? 33) What are the main causes of karma bondage? 34) What are the eight main types of karma? 35) What is Ghati and Aghati karma? 36) How are karmas shed through austerities? 37) What is Mohaniya (deluding) karma? 38) How do passions (kashayas) affect karma bondage? 39) What is the role of Right Faith in stopping bondage? 40) How does meditation help in Nirjara?

Vows and Ethics (Householders) 41) What are the five Anuvratas (small vows) for laypeople? 42) What is the Anuvrata of Ahimsa for a householder? 43) What is Satya (truth) as an Anuvrata? 44) What is Achaurya (non-stealing) as an Anuvrata? 45) What is Brahmacharya (chastity) as an Anuvrata? 46) What is Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) as an Anuvrata? 47) What are the three Gunavratas? 48) What are the four Shiksha-vratas? 49) How does a layperson practice non-violence in daily life? 50) What is the ethical view on right livelihood in Jainism?

Vows and Ethics (Monastics) 51) What are the five Mahavratas for ascetics? 52) How is monastic Ahimsa stricter than lay Ahimsa? 53) What is the discipline of carefulness (samiti) for monks/nuns? 54) What are the three guptis (restraints)? 55) What is the purpose of Pratilekhan (self-review) for monks? 56) How do monks practice Aparigraha in strict form? 57) What is the daily routine of a Jain monk or nun? 58) Why do monks/nuns practice vihara (walking) instead of using vehicles? 59) What is Gochari (alms) and its rules? 60) How do monks maintain vigilance to avoid harm to small life-forms?

Samayik, Pratikraman, and Daily Sadhana 61) What is Samayik and its purpose? 62) How long does one Samayik typically last? 63) What is Pratikraman and when is it done? 64) What are Alochana and Pratyakhyan in Pratikraman? 65) What is the role of Prayers and Stotras in daily practice? 66) What is Kayotsarga and how is it performed? 67) What is Preksha or Anupreksha (reflections) in Jain tradition? 68) What is the meaning of forgiveness (Kshama) practice? 69) How do laypeople include sadhana in busy life? 70) What is the ideal daily routine for a Jain householder?

Scriptures and Literature 71) What are Agamas? 72) What is the difference in scriptural canons in Digambar and Shvetambar traditions? 73) What languages are Jain scriptures composed in? 74) What are key commentaries (Bhashyas/Tikas) in Jainism? 75) What is the Tattvartha Sutra and who authored it? 76) What is the essence of Samayasara? 77) What is the central message of Niyamasara? 78) What is Panchastikaya and its teaching? 79) What is Pravachansara about? 80) What is the purpose of Dashavaikalika or Acharanga texts?

Navkar Mantra and Prayers 81) What is the Navkar (Namokar) Mantra? 82) What do each of the five obeisances in Navkar signify? 83) Why does Navkar not mention any specific Tirthankar’s name? 84) What is the benefit of reciting Navkar Mantra? 85) What is the meaning of the phrase “Eso Panch Namokkaro”? 86) What is the meaning of “Savva Pavappanasano”? 87) What is the difference between Navkar and other stotras? 88) What is the Atichar of praising unworthy objects/beings? 89) Which other common Jain prayers are popular? 90) How should one recite stotras with right attitude?

Twenty-Four Tirthankaras 91) Who was Adinath (Rishabhdev)? 92) Who was Ajitnath? 93) Who was Sambhavnath? 94) Who was Abhinandan Swami? 95) Who was Sumatinath? 96) Who was Padmaprabhu? 97) Who was Suparshvanath? 98) Who was Chandraprabhu? 99) Who was Pushpadant (Suvidhinath)? 100) Who was Sheetalnath? 101) Who was Shreyansanath? 102) Who was Vasupujya? 103) Who was Vimalnath? 104) Who was Anantanath? 105) Who was Dharmanath? 106) Who was Shantinath? 107) Who was Kunthunath? 108) Who was Arnath? 109) Who was Mallinath, and what are tradition-specific views? 110) Who was Munisuvrat Swami? 111) Who was Neminath (Arishtanemi)? 112) Who was Parshvanath? 113) Who was Mahavir Swami? 114) What are the symbols (lanchhanas) of each Tirthankar?

Life of Bhagwan Mahavir 115) When and where was Mahavir born? 116) What were Mahavir’s parents’ names and status? 117) What were Mahavir’s early life virtues? 118) When did Mahavir take diksha (renunciation)? 119) How long did Mahavir do sadhana before Kevaljnan? 120) Where did Mahavir attain Kevaljnan? 121) What is the meaning of Kevaljnan? 122) What were Mahavir’s main teachings? 123) When and where did Mahavir attain Nirvana? 124) What impact did Mahavir have on Jain Sangha organization?

Parshvanath and Earlier Tirthankaras 125) What are the four vows associated with Parshvanath’s teachings? 126) What historical evidence exists for Parshvanath? 127) What are the chief events of Parshvanath’s life story? 128) What were the teachings of Neminath regarding compassion? 129) What is significant about Adinath’s (Rishabhdev’s) role in civilization? 130) How are the earlier Tirthankaras remembered in rituals?

Sects and Traditions 131) What are the main differences between Digambar and Shvetambar? 132) What are sub-sects like Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi? 133) What are the dress codes and conduct differences of monks in each tradition? 134) What are scriptural differences between the sects? 135) What is common and unifying across all Jain sects? 136) How do different sects perform Pratikraman? 137) What are differences in idol-worship practices? 138) How is Mallinath viewed differently across traditions? 139) What are differences in Paryushan and Das Lakshan observances? 140) How does one maintain respect across traditions?

Temple, Tirth, and Worship 141) What is the purpose of a Jain temple (derasar/basadi)? 142) What are the eight types of Puja (Ashta Prakari Puja)? 143) What do each of the eight Puja items symbolize? 144) What is Abhishek (Jal Puja/Snaan)? 145) What is the role of swastika, bindu, and Om in Jain symbols? 146) What is the significance of Shatrunjaya (Palitana)? 147) What is the significance of Sammed Shikharji? 148) What is Girnar’s connection to Neminath? 149) What is Shravanabelagola’s significance? 150) How should one behave in a temple to uphold Ahimsa and purity?

Festivals and Holy Days 151) What is Paryushan and why is it most important? 152) What is Das Lakshan Parva? 153) What are the ten virtues (Kshama, Mardava, etc.) celebrated? 154) What is Samvatsari and Kshamapana (seeking forgiveness)? 155) What is Ayambil Oli and its purpose? 156) What is Maun Ekadashi in Jain practice? 157) What is Mahavir Jayanti and how is it observed? 158) What is Diwali’s meaning in Jain tradition? 159) What is Gyan Panchami? 160) How are fasts (upvas, ayambil) undertaken properly?

Diet and Conduct 161) What is the Jain view on vegetarianism and veganism? 162) Why are root vegetables avoided by many Jains? 163) What is the rule about eating after sunset? 164) What is the concept of alochana related to food conduct? 165) What is mindful eating (bhavana) in Jainism? 166) What is Anartha-danda (purposeless harm) and food wastage? 167) How does one maintain Ahimsa in kitchen practices? 168) What are the guidelines for travel and food during chaturmas? 169) How to practice Aparigraha in consumption and shopping? 170) What is the stance on intoxicants and fermented foods?

Social Ethics and Family Life 171) How does Jainism guide family relationships with Ahimsa? 172) How is truthfulness practiced kindly? 173) What is the Jain view on charity (daan) and its forms? 174) How does Jainism view environmental protection? 175) What is an ideal Jain home atmosphere? 176) How to practice restraint in speech (vachan gupti) at work? 177) What is the Jain approach to conflict resolution? 178) How to cultivate forgiveness in daily interactions? 179) What is the role of sangha (community) in spiritual growth? 180) How should Jains engage with technology mindfully?

Meditation and Austerities 181) What is the role of dhyana (meditation) in Jainism? 182) What are internal and external austerities (tapas)? 183) What are the six external austerities? 184) What are the six internal austerities? 185) What is Sallekhana/Santhara and its proper understanding? 186) How does pratikraman differ from meditation? 187) What is Pratyakhyan (firm resolve) and how to take it? 188) What is the place of silence (mauna) in spiritual life? 189) What is the value of self-study (svadhyaya) daily? 190) How to measure spiritual progress without ego?

Philosophy and Metaphysics 191) What is Dravya (substance) and its types? 192) What is Gun (attributes) and Paryaya (modes)? 193) What is the Jain concept of time (kala) and cosmic cycles? 194) What is the structure of the universe (loka)? 195) What is Siddha Shila? 196) What is the difference between Vyavahara Naya and Nishchaya Naya? 197) What is the nature of liberated soul (Siddha)? 198) How does Jainism define right knowledge sources (pramana)? 199) What is the Jain view on creator deity and creation? 200) How can one begin a steady path toward Samyak Darshan today?

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