Glossary of Jainism

ahimsa

principle of non-violence to any living thing

ajiva

nonliving

Ambika

Mother-Goddess

anekantvad

principle of multiple viewpoints (illustration: story of blind men and elephant)

apirigraham

principle of avoidance of material possessions

Arihanta

"destroyer of enemies" - the spiritual state at which inner passions have been destroyed (ego, deceit, greed, anger, etc.)

jambudvina

"Continent of the Rose-Apple Tree" - earthly realm, which is divided into 7 regions

jinas

spiritual victors; tirthankaras

kalchakra

time cycle

kashaya

passions

loka

true nature of the universe

Mahavira

("Great Hero") Vardhamana, the 24th Tirthankara, who lived 599-527 BC

pap

bad

punya

good

salekhana

fasting to death (performed by Mahavira)

satya

renunciation of secular lifestyle

tirthankaras

("ford-makers") 24 founding spiritual teachers of Jainism.