Jain Curious
Questions welcome
Swipe
Ask
Learn
Ranks
Me
i
🦚
…
Go deeper
Glossary
Interviews & AMAs
Glossary
Words worth stealing.
Spin for a random one, or dig in by theme. Every term comes with how to say it.
Word roulette · Big Ideas
Spin
Ahimsa
/uh-HIM-saa/
Non-violence in action, speech and thought.
Tell me more →
All
Big Ideas
Soul & Karma
Practice
People & Paths
Food
Symbols & Texts
Ahimsa
/uh-HIM-saa/
Non-violence in action, speech and thought.
Full page →
Aparigraha
/uh-puh-RIG-ruh-huh/
Non-possessiveness: owning, and clinging, less.
Full page →
Anekantavada
/uh-nay-KAAN-tuh-VAA-duh/
Many-sidedness: no one viewpoint has the whole truth.
Full page →
Syadvada
/SYAAD-vaa-duh/
The logic of 'from a certain point of view'.
Full page →
Naya
/NUH-yuh/
A standpoint, or partial angle on the truth.
Full page →
Satya
/SUT-yuh/
Truthfulness, the kind that doesn't wound needlessly.
Full page →
Asteya
/uh-STAY-yuh/
Not taking what isn't freely given.
Full page →
Brahmacharya
/BRUH-muh-CHAR-yuh/
Sexual restraint.
Full page →
Jiva
/JEE-vuh/
A soul, or living being. There are infinitely many.
Full page →
Ajiva
/uh-JEE-vuh/
Everything that isn't a soul.
Full page →
Karma
/KUR-muh/
Subtle matter that sticks to the soul when you act with passion.
Full page →
Pudgala
/POOD-guh-luh/
Matter, including the matter karma is made of.
Full page →
Kashaya
/kuh-SHAA-yuh/
The four passions: anger, pride, deceit, greed.
Full page →
Lobha
/LOW-bhuh/
Greed, the last passion to go.
Full page →
Leshya
/LAYSH-yuh/
The 'colour' your mental state gives your soul.
Full page →
Asrava
/AAS-ruh-vuh/
The inflow of karma.
Full page →
Bandha
/BUN-dhuh/
Karmic bondage: when inflowing karma sticks.
Full page →
Samvara
/SUM-vuh-ruh/
Blocking new karma.
Full page →
Nirjara
/NEER-juh-ruh/
Shedding karma that's already bound.
Full page →
Moksha
/MOKE-shuh/
Liberation: the soul fully free of karma.
Full page →
Kevala Gyan
/KAY-vuh-luh GYAA-nuh/
Omniscience.
Full page →
Nigoda
/ni-GO-duh/
The simplest life: infinite souls sharing single bodies.
Full page →
Loka
/LOW-kuh/
The universe, shaped like a standing person.
Full page →
Bhava-himsa
/BHAA-vuh HIM-saa/
Inner violence: harm in intention and emotion.
Full page →
Samayika
/suh-MAA-yi-kuh/
48 minutes of equanimity.
Full page →
Pratikraman
/pruh-TIK-ruh-mun/
Reflection and repentance for harm caused.
Full page →
Tapas
/TUP-us/
Austerity: the discipline that burns karma.
Full page →
Paryushan
/par-YOO-shun/
The most important Jain festival.
Full page →
Micchami Dukkadam
/MICH-chaa-mee DUK-kuh-dum/
'May my wrongdoings be fruitless.' Forgive me.
Full page →
Kshama
/KSHUH-maa/
Forgiveness, the first of the ten virtues.
Full page →
Mauna
/MOW-nuh/
A vow of silence.
Full page →
Santhara
/sun-THAA-raa/
A voluntary, gradual fast at the end of life.
Full page →
Diksha
/DEEK-shaa/
Initiation into monastic life.
Full page →
Chaturmas
/chuh-TOOR-maas/
The four-month monsoon retreat.
Full page →
Mahavrata
/muh-HAA-vruh-tuh/
The five 'great vows' of monks and nuns.
Full page →
Anuvrata
/uh-NOO-vruh-tuh/
The five 'small vows' of householders.
Full page →
Parigraha-parimana
/puh-RIG-ruh-huh puh-ri-MAA-nuh/
Setting a personal limit on what you own.
Full page →
Tirthankara
/teerth-UN-kuh-ruh/
A 'ford-maker' who shows the way across rebirth.
Full page →
Mahavira
/muh-HAA-vee-ruh/
The 24th Tirthankara, a contemporary of the Buddha.
Full page →
Jina
/JIN-uh/
'Conqueror', of the inner passions, not other people.
Full page →
Arihant
/uh-ri-HUNT/
An enlightened being still living in a body.
Full page →
Siddha
/SID-dhuh/
A fully liberated soul.
Full page →
Sadhu / Sadhvi
/SAA-dhoo / SAADH-vee/
Jain monk / Jain nun.
Full page →
Acharya
/aa-CHAAR-yuh/
A leader of a monastic order.
Full page →
Digambara
/dig-UM-buh-ruh/
'Sky-clad': the tradition whose monks renounce clothing.
Full page →
Shvetambara
/shvay-TUM-buh-ruh/
'White-clad': the tradition whose monks and nuns wear white.
Full page →
Shravaka / Shravika
/SHRAA-vuh-kuh/
A Jain layman / laywoman.
Full page →
Ananta-kaya
/uh-NUN-tuh KAA-yuh/
'Infinite-bodied' foods, like root vegetables.
Full page →
Chauvihar
/chow-vi-HAR/
No food or water after sunset.
Full page →
Upvas
/oop-VAAS/
A full-day fast.
Full page →
Ayambil
/aa-YUM-bil/
One bland meal a day.
Full page →
Gochari
/go-CHUH-ree/
How monks collect food.
Full page →
Navkar Mantra
/NUV-kar MUN-truh/
The core Jain prayer.
Full page →
Jain Emblem
The shared symbol, adopted in 1974–75.
Full page →
Swastika (Jain)
/SWUS-ti-kuh/
An ancient symbol of the four realms of rebirth.
Full page →
Parasparopagraho Jivanam
/puh-ruh-spuh-roh-PUG-ruh-hoh JEE-vuh-num/
'Souls render service to one another.'
Full page →
Tattvartha Sutra
/TUT-vaar-thuh SOO-truh/
The one text both main traditions accept.
Full page →
Agamas
/AA-guh-muz/
The canonical scriptures.
Full page →
Ratnatraya
/rut-nuh-TRUH-yuh/
The three jewels: right faith, knowledge, conduct.
Full page →
Muhpatti
/MOO-put-tee/
The mouth-cloth some monks and nuns wear.
Full page →
Derasar
/day-RAA-sur/
A Jain temple (Gujarati term).
Full page →
Swipe
Ask
Learn
Ranks
Me