Editing Indian religions (section)

===== Jainism =====
{{Main|Mahavira|Jainism|Timeline of Jainism|Jain community}}

Jainism was established by a lineage of 24 enlightened beings culminating with [[Parshvanatha]] (9th century BCE) and [[Mahavira]] (6th century BCE).<ref name="Oldmeadow">[[Harry Oldmeadow]] (2007) Light from the East: Eastern Wisdom for the Modern West, [[World Wisdom]], Inc. {{ISBN|1-933316-22-5}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Oldmeadow: "Over time, apparent misunderstandings have arisen over the origins of Jainism and relationship with its sister religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. There has been an ongoing debate between Jainism and Vedic Hinduism as to which revelation preceded the other. What is historically known is that there was a tradition along with Vedic Hinduism known as [[śramaṇa|Sramana Dharma]]. Essentially, the sramana tradition included it its fold, the Jain and Buddhist traditions, which disagreed with the eternality of the Vedas, the needs for ritual sacrifices and the supremacy of the Brahmins."<ref name="Oldmeadow" /> Page 141}}

The 24th [[Tirthankara]] of Jainism, Mahavira, stressed five vows, including ''[[Ahimsa in Jainism|ahimsa]]'' (non-violence), ''[[satya]]'' (truthfulness), ''[[asteya]]'' (non-stealing), and ''[[aparigraha]]'' (non-attachment). As per Jain tradition, the teachings of the Tirthankaras predates all known time. The scholars believe [[Parshva]], accorded status as the 23rd Tirthankara, was a historical figure. The Vedas are believed to have documented a few Tirthankaras and an ascetic order similar to the [[shramana]] movement.<ref name="Fisher">Mary Pat Fisher (1997). [https://archive.org/details/livingreligions00fish_0 ''Living Religions: An Encyclopedia of the World's Faiths''], 3rd ed. I. B. Tauris: London. {{ISBN|1-86064-148-2}}. {{OCLC|41293467}}.</ref>{{refn|group=note|Fisher: "The extreme antiquity of Jainism as a non-vedic, indigenous Indian religion is well documented. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist scriptures refer to Jainism as an existing tradition which began long before Mahavira."<ref name="Fisher" />|p=[https://archive.org/details/livingreligions00fish_0/mode/2up?q=Mahavira p. 115].}}