Definitions for "Jainism"
The heterodox Hindu religion, founded in the 6th century as a revolt against Hinduism; its most striking features are the exaltation of saints or holy mortals, called jins, above the ordinary Hindu gods, and the denial of a supreme being and of the divine origin and infallibility of the Vedas. Also, the sect comprising those adhering to Jainism. Jainism believes in immortality and the transmigration of the soul. It is intermediate between Brahmanism and Buddhism, having some things in common with each.
Jainism is a religeous faith of India that originated with Mahavira, a Sadguru, sixth century B.C.. The most notable feature of Jain ethics is its insistence on non-injury to all forms of life. Jain philosophy finds that every kind of creature has a soul; therefore, strict observance of this precept of nonviolence (ahimsa) requires extreme caution in all activity. Jain monks frequently wear cloths over their mouths to avoid unwittingly killing anything such as an insect by breathing it in, and Jain house floors are kept meticulously clean to avert the danger of stepping on a living being, such as an ant. Jains regard the intentional taking of a creature's life, or even violent thoughts as serious assaults of defilement and irreligious. (Ka 2502 )
2500 year old religion of the Jains.