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 Families of Religions  Jain       No deity
 
Vardhamana Mahavira, born in India around 540 BCE, took up a wandering ascetic life. Having achieved omniscience after years of suffering, he began to teach others and organized followers into groups of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. There is an eternal pattern of rise and fall in the universe and each age has twenty four teachers who help people escape the cycle of reincarnation. Jain temples have a seated image of a particular teacher. Worship of the image is to happen every day, usually in the morning. The five basic principles are: avoid doing harm, truthfulness, no stealing, chastity, and detachment from material things.
Links:  Jain World     Jain information and links.
Greeting Cards   A source for cards relating to Jain holy days. 

Update 5-12-11

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