who are jains?

Jains are followers of Jainism, an ancient Indian religion that teaches a path of spiritual liberation through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. Key ideas:

• Non-violence (ahimsa) is the foundational principle; Jains aim to cause no harm to any living being.
• Truth (satya), non-attachment (aparigraha), and self-discipline (tapas) are central ethical values.
• Jains believe in a cycle of birth and rebirth ( karma) and seek liberation (moksha) by purifying the soul.
• There are revered Tirthankaras (enlightened teachers) who show the path to liberation; Mahavira is considered the 24th Tirthankar in the current era.
• Jain practice includes careful ethical living, vegetarianism, respect for all life, and rituals led by monks (samnyasin) and the lay community (upadhyayas and households).

Two major traditions:

• Digambaras: renounce all possessions; monks traditionally wear no clothes.
• Śvetāmbaras: monks may wear white robes; both traditions share core Jain ethics but have some doctrinal and ritual differences.

If you’d like, I can share a simple overview of Jain ethics (five mahavratas for monks and five anuvratas for lay followers) or introduce key Jain scriptures and practices.