Jainism

Jainism (pronounced [dʒɛːnɪzəm]^{[citation needed]}), traditionally known as Jaina dharma, is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. It is one of the oldest religions of the world finding its roots in ancient India.^[1] Tradition says that this belief has been preached by a succession of twenty-four propagators of faith known as tirthankara. Jainism emphasises spiritual independence and equality between all forms of life. Practitioners of this religion believe that non-violence and self-control is the means by which they can obtain liberation from the cycle of reincarnations.

Jainism is a religious minority in India, with 4.2 million followers, and has adherents in immigrant communities inBelgium, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.^[2] Jains have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community in India,^[3] and their manuscript libraries are the oldest in the country.^[4]

Source: wikipedia.org