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Glimpses of World Religions
conquer' and from that, this word has been derived. 'Jin' menas the conquerer or one who has got victory; he who has controlled and conquered his feelings of love and hatred and one who has got conquest over Kāma and Raga (or 'krodh') is called a 'Jin' and he who worships such a 'Jin' having full faith in him, is called a Jain. This jain word has been explained in another way also by the learned men or scholars. They say that "One who keeps Jayana towards animals is called Jain"; i.e. Jain is a person who keeps constant vigilence and takes constant care not to make minutest living being unhappy by his mind, speech and action. The supporting pillar is non-violence, self-control and penance. (That is why Jain Dharma is called 'other than ordinary people's religion.) This religion expected from everybody to follow nonviolence, self-control and penance of the maximum degree and that too without cherishing any hope of any reward whatsoever, in every activity of religion.
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The Jain Dharma has renunciation of residence as the central principle of paramount importance. In this religion, one who has reached the highest pinnacle (of austerity) is worshipped. The Tirthankars are the selfless saints (who have sacrificed everything) who are free from all passions, are philosophers and they are the founders or constructors of the Teerthas, or pilgrim centres. In the whole world, there is none so great as man, such a declaration is done by Jain religion. This trust or strong belief tantamounts to the (unbelievable but true) conviction that even Gods like Indra worship such a great man!
Jainism does not believe in God (as others do); the creation of the cosmos or world is beginningless (Anādi) and infinite. If one wants to be free from the worldly life, self-effort (or Swapurusharth) is inevitable. An individual is not great by dint of his birth (in particular family) but by virtue of his or her conduct
