Jainism

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जैन jaina, f. jainī [vr. jina], a follower of Jainism; from the root √ जि ji, to conquer, win, defeat. Jaina thus “refers to the ascetic battle that, it is believed, Jain renunciants (monks and nuns) must fight against the passions and bodily senses to gain enlightenment, or omniscience and purity of soul” (Encyclopædia Britannica).

Jainas (Sk.) A large religious body in India closely resembling Buddhism, but who preceded it by long centuries. They claim that Gautama, the Buddha, was a disciple of one of their Tirtankaras, or Saints. They deny the authority of the Vedas and the existence of any personal supreme god, but believe in the eternity of matter, the periodicity of the universe and the immortality of men’s minds (Manas) as also of that of the animals. An extremely mystic sect.—H. P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Glossary

Tirthankâra (Sk.) Jaina saints and chiefs, of which there are twenty-four. It is claimed that one of them was the spiritual Guru of Gautama Buddha. Tirthankâra is a synonym of Jaina.—H. P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Glossary

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