Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world, based on the philosophy of AhimsaHindu and Jain term meaning 'non-violence' or reverence for all living beings. Jains are widely acknowledged as having made major contributions to the art, literature and culture of India and have been vegetarians for thousands of years. The last prophet was MahaviraThe founder of Jainism, or the Great Hero, who lived in 559BCE. Jainism originated in India and has spread throughout the world. There are Jain temples in a number of places in the UK including London, Leicester and Manchester. Worldwide there are about seven million adherents.

The resources contained in the list of subjects to the left are a basic introduction to the facts and beliefs of Jainism. They are a portal or window into the world Jainism and by following the weblinks and bibliographies, an enquirer may discover more and more about this faith. Technical words are highlighted and these will lead to more detailed definitions.

The 24 units are based on the QCA non-statutory framework for Religious Education and provide not only a comprehensive guide to the factual and belief structures of Jainism, but also address the issues that Jainism encounters as it engages with the 21st century.