Jainism is one of the ancient religions originated in India, following the non-violence principle towards all living beings. Jains seek the path of truth, and believe living in harmony. The goal of Jainism is to liberate the soul, and it focuses on the concept that body and soul are two separate entities. They believe that religious harmony and equality is ultimate and applies to women. Though, some possess different views, questioning how women can acquire equality. For instance, many believe that women need to be born as a man first, and then as a woman for experiencing spiritual equality.
Fasting
In Jainism, fasting is a common practice, and often performed by women. It offers four types of fasting: 1) Rasa Parityaga; it means put away favorite foods, 2) Vruti Sankshepa, it means lessening the quantity of food, 3) partial fasting, and 4) complete fasting. The Jains must enter the mental setup of self-discipline for controlling their hunger.
Food
Jains do not eat everything due to religious reasons like they avoid onions, potatoes, garlic, or anything that grows underground. They do not eat fish or meat as well due to the non-violence principle of their religion. Decaying food, fermented foods, and unfiltered water is also forbidden. Reading Jain scriptures will definitely enhance your knowledge. Regular practices
Jains wear masks, and endure great pain to assure they do not kill or even harm any living creatures including insects. They take five vows including non-violence, no stealing, truthfulness, celibacy, and not to be possessive. They do their prayers at home or in temples, focusing on chanting mantras. Explore further to get more Information about Jainism.
