Unit 3: Ancient India
Chapter 15: Learning About Hindu Beliefs
Another Important Religious Tradition in India: Jainism
In Chapter 15, you learned about the origins and beliefs of Hinduism. Another religion from India is Jainism. Like Hinduism, Jainism also developed during ancient times. Jains share many beliefs with Hindus. Today, there are about three million Jains. Most live in western India.
Below is a biography of the most important figure in Jainism. His name is
Mahavira. As you read, think about the contributions he made to the religion of
Jainism and to the culture of India.
Mahavira was born in 599 b.c.e. as a prince. As a young man, he was very
interested in spiritual matters. At the age of 30, he left his family and his home
to become a holy man. He spent the next several years living alone and
traveling in the forests of India. He would go without food for long periods of
time. He was careful to avoid harming any other living beings including animals,
birds, and plants. He spent his days meditating.
After 12 years, he found the answers he was looking for and began teaching
people who would listen. Mahavira lived during a time in India when there were
many wars. Many people were looking for a message of hope and faith.
Mahavira attracted all sorts of people-rich and poor, kings and farmers, men
and women. He taught that happiness could never come to a person through
material belongings. Therefore, he stressed, people should have as few
possessions as possible.
Mahavira also taught that people should show great respect for all forms of life
and not harm a living thing. This concept is called ahimsa and plays an
important part in Jainism. To practice ahimsa, Jains became strict vegetarians.
A vegetarian generally does not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Some Jains would not
even eat root vegetables because the entire plant dies when its roots are pulled
from the ground. Followers of Jainism would sweep the ground before walking
to avoid harming insects. Many Jains became merchants and traders because farmers plowed the ground, destroying living things in the soil.
Jainism was not a new religion. Instead, Mahavira was a new inspiration in
spreading the religion. His beliefs and teachings influenced not only Jainism,
but Hinduism and Buddhism as well. For example, ahimsa is an important part
of all three religions. Even in modern times, ahimsa influences Indian culture.
The 20th-century Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi stressed the importance of
ahimsa. He used nonviolent methods, such as fasting, to protest violence when
India became independent from Great Britain in 1947.
Mahavira died in 527 b.c.e. at the age of 72. The site of his death is considered
to be the most sacred place of pilgrimage for Jains today.
Investigating Biographies
The idea of ahimsa, or nonviolence, has become an important part of modern
culture. In India, Gandhi protested violence through nonviolent means. In the
United States, the 1960s civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. also protested
injustice through nonviolent means.
Do some research to find out more about Gandhi. Write a 3 paragraph summary of his important contributions. Focus your report on this question: Is nonviolence an effective strategy? Your report must include
• an introduction that engages the reader’s interest and states a clear purpose.
• a body with supporting facts, details, and examples from your research. Include 2-3 resources with direct quotes that showGandhi’suse of nonviolence, and explain how the quote shows that belief.
• a conclusion that restates the purpose of your report and summarizes your
main points.
1st Paragraph: Decide if nonviolence is an effective strategy or not and state 3 ways why you believe it is or not.
2nd Paragraph: Explain 3 ways how Nonviolence was used effectively or not effectively based on your opinion if nonviolence works or not based on Gandhi’s experiences.
3rd Paragraph: Summarize if you believe nonviolence works or not and why.