Differences Between Jainism and Hinduism

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world, with a history spanning more than 4,000 years. Religion has been practiced by many different groups of people across India and abroad. Jains are strict vegetarians who follow a path that preaches non-violence to all living beings. They believe that every creature on earth deserves respect and should be treated humanely without any harm or violence. Hinduism is an ancient religion that has evolved with various schools of thought throughout its history. One school of thought is known as Vedanta, founded by Adi Shankara in the 8th century CE. It believed in karma – actions cause reactions which can be good or bad depending on what was done out of free will – and dharma, righteousness. Hindus also believe in reincarnation, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The religions of Jainism and Hinduism are similar in some ways, yet they have very key differences. The most common similarity is that both belief systems share a reverence for cows. However, the two religions also differ in their view of ascetics and holy men (saints). Hindus believe that saints can help them achieve spiritual liberation and enlightenment; while Jains reject this idea. This difference has caused tensions between the two traditions throughout history. Even today, there is often friction between adherents to these beliefs when it comes to competing for resources such as land or food sources.  In addition, one religion’s followers may see the other’s behaviors as being sacrilegious or impure which can lead to violence or persecution.

Comparison between Jainism and Hinduism

Parameters of ComparisonJainismHinduism
OldOlderLess Older
GodJains believe in a single entity Hindus worship multiple deities
RestrictionHinduism has no restrictions on what can be eaten or not eatenJainism does have strict dietary guidelines that must be followed
KarmaDifferent karmaDifferent karma
ColorJainism is associated with the color whiteHinduism associates with the colors yellow and orange

What is Jainism?

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is a religion that has its own unique beliefs and practices. If you are interested in learning more about Jainism, then this post is for you. In this post, we will discuss the basics of Jainism and some of its most important beliefs. We will also discuss some of the major holidays celebrated by Jains. So, if you are curious about this fascinating religion, keep reading.

Jainism is a major world religion with about 4.1 million followers worldwide, primarily in India where it has been practiced for more than two thousand years. The Jains believe that all life is sacred and should be respected as such. This belief manifests itself in the most basic of ways: they do not kill insects or any other living creature, even if they are walking through piles of them on their way to work or school each day. They also wear masks over their mouths and noses to avoid inhaling small organisms and bacteria that might live inside those particles – this means no kissing, blowing your nose into tissues, coughing without covering your mouth…all things we usually take for granted as part of our daily lives.

Differences Between Jainism and Hinduism

What is Hinduism?

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion that has been practiced since the Vedic period of India. It’s an ancient faith with roots in Hindu, Buddhism, and Jainism. There are more than 1 billion followers worldwide, making it the third-largest world religion after Christianity and Islam. 

Hinduism is a polytheistic, non-denominational religion that originated in India. Hindus believe in the reincarnation of souls and karma. The Hindu scriptures are called “smrti.” This blog post will provide an overview of what Hinduism is and how it differs from other religions. 

Hinduism has been around for millennia but there’s no one way to define it because there’s no central authority or organization. In general, scholars say Hinduism can be defined as a family of related traditions which share common concepts about life and the universe, including karma and samsara (reincarnation).

Differences Between Jainism and Hinduism

10 Differences Between Jainism and Hinduism

1. Jains believe that all life is sacred and should be respected, whereas Hindus believe in the caste system.

2. The Jain religion follows a path of non-violence to achieve enlightenment, while Hinduism does not necessarily follow this.

3. In Hinduism, there are many gods and goddesses with different powers and abilities; in Jainism, there is only one God who created everything.

4. Hindus often worship idols or statues; Jains do not.

5. While both religions focus on karma (actions) as a way to attain enlightenment, Hindus believe that you can also attain salvation through good deeds such as charity work or meditation, while for the most part only your actions will determine whether you reach enlightenment in the end.

6. The goal of both religions is to break free from the cycle of rebirths and become liberated from worldly attachments – but how they go about achieving this differs greatly between both groups.

7. Jainism is an Indian religion, while Hinduism is a family of religions.

8. The central belief in Jainism is that all life has spiritual value and should not be harmed.

9. In contrast, the central belief in Hinduism is that the world and everything in it are divine.

10. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses while Jains only worship one god (Lord Mahavira).

Interesting Statistics or Facts of  Jainism

1. Jainism is the only religion in the world that does not believe in a god.

2. There are about 5 million Jains worldwide, with most living in India.

3. The word “Jain” comes from Sanskrit and means “to conquer” or “to win happiness”.

4. One of the core principles of Jainism is Ahimsa, which translates to nonviolence.

5. Followers do not eat root vegetables because they believe it would harm small creatures living beneath them.

6. Followers also avoid eating lettuce because they think it would hurt insects trying to cross on top of the leaves.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of  Hinduism

1. Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religion.

2. There are over one billion Hindus in India alone.

3. The word “Hindu” comes from the Persian term “Sindhu,” which means Indian.

4. Over 350 million people live in India, and about 80% of them are Hindus.

5. Yoga originated in India.

6. Most Indian weddings include a ceremony called Saptapadi, which is seven steps taken together by the bride and groom to symbolize their new life together as husband and wife.

Conclusion

Hinduism and Jainism are two separate religions that have many similarities. They both believe in reincarnation, karma, and the idea of liberation from a cycle of death and rebirth through an ascetic lifestyle. However, Hinduism is polytheistic while Jainism believes in only one all-powerful being known as “Jina.” Hindus also worship a wide range of gods including Vishnu’s ten incarnations or avatars such as Rama and Krishna whereas Jains focus their devotion on just six aspects: Mahavira, Parshvanatha, Neminatha, Shantinath, Ayyappa Swami (not worshipped by all), Kunthunatha. In terms of rituals, there are some differences too with Hindus undertaking the pilgrimage to holy sites and Jains reporting to a temple every morning and evening.

References:

Resource 01: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism#:~:text=Jainism%20(%2F%CB%88d%CA%92e%C9%AAn,aparigraha%20(non%2Dattachment).
Resource 02: https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism

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