KristineCharlton at 19:33, 15 February 2026

2026-02-15T19:33:58Z

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{{Short description|India's sixth-largest religion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox religious group
| group=Indian Jains
| image=File:Jain Temple Ranakpur.jpg
| caption=[[Ranakpur Jain temple]]
| pop ={{increase}} 4,451,753 ([[2011 Census of India|2011]])<ref name="census2011">{{cite web|title=Population by religion community – 2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=Census of India, 2011|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref><br/>'''0.40%''' (of the total population of India)
| languages='''[[Prakrit]]''' {{small|(sacred)}}
<br> [[Languages of India|Indian languages]] {{small|(according to the region)}}
|pop4=567,028|founder= |flag_caption=Flag for Indian Jains|flag=File:In-jain.png
|pop7= 166,231 |region7=[[Jainism in Delhi | Delhi]]
|pop6=213,267|region6=[[Jainism in Uttar Pradesh |Uttar Pradesh]]
|pop5=440,280|region5=[[Jainism in Karnataka|Karnataka]]|region3=[[Jainism in Gujarat|Gujarat]]|region4=[[Madhya Pradesh]]|pop3=579,654|region2=[[Jainism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]|pop2=622,023|pop1=1,400,349|region1=[[Jainism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]|religions=[[Jainism]]}}
[[Jainism]] is [[India]]'s [[Religion in India|sixth-largest religion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp#.VGCbxPmUeSo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124170154/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140121/jsp/nation/story_17847192.jsp#.VGCbxPmUeSo|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2014|title=National minority status for Jains|work=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jains-become-sixth-minority-community-1954568|title=Jains become sixth minority community|date=21 January 2014 |work=DNAIndia.com}}</ref> As per the [[2011 census of India|census of 2011]], there were 4,451,753 and counting [[Jains]] in the 1.35 billion population of India, the majority living in [[Maharashtra]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], and so on. However, the influence of Jainism has been far greater on Indian and the [[South Asia|South Asian]] population than these numbers suggest. Jains can be found in every state and every union territories of India, varying from large societies to smaller. The state of [[Jharkhand]], with a population of 16,301 and counting Jains also contains the most holy pilgrimage centre of [[Shikharji|Sammed Shikhar]]. ''Indian Jains'' can also be found in many other countries throughout the world.

==History==
{{main|History of Jainism}}
Jain doctrine teaches that Jainism has always existed and will always exist.{{sfn|Glasenapp|1999|p=15}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=12}}<ref>Varni, Jinendra; Ed. Prof. Sagarmal Jain, Translated Justice T.K. Tukol and Dr. Narendra Bhandari. ''{{IAST|Samaṇ Suttaṁ}}.'' New Delhi: Bhagwan Mahavir memorial Samiti. "The Historians have so far fully recognized the truth that Tirthankara Mahavira was not the founder of the religion. He was preceded by many tirthankaras. He merely reiterated and rejuvenated that religion. It is correct that history has not been able to trace the origin of the Jaina religion; but historical evidence now available and the result of dispassionate researches in literature have established that Jainism is undoubtedly an ancient religion." Pp. xii – xiii of introduction by Justice T. K.Tutkol and Dr. K. K. Dixit.</ref>{{sfn|Glasenapp|1999|p=24}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=17}} Like most ancient [[Indian religions]], Jainism has its roots from the [[Indus Valley civilization]], reflecting native spirituality prior to the [[Indo-Aryan migration]] into India.<ref>Larson, Gerald James (1995); ''India’s Agony Over Religion''; SUNY Press; p. 27; {{ISBN|0-7914-2412-X}}. "There is some evidence that Jain traditions may be even older than the Buddhist traditions, possibly going back to the time of the Indus valley civilization, and that Vardhamana rather than being a 'founder' per se was, rather, simply a primary spokesman for much older tradition."</ref><ref>Beversluis, Joel Diederik (2000); in: ''Sourcebook of the World's Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality''; Novato, California: New World Library; {{ISBN|1577311213}} Originating on the Indian sub-continent, Jainism is one of the oldest religion of its homeland and indeed the world, having pre-historic origins before 3000 BC and the propagation of Indo-Aryan culture.... p. 81</ref><ref>Jainism by Mrs. [[Natalya Romanovna Guseva|N.R. Guseva]] p.44</ref> Other scholars suggested the [[Shramana]] traditions were separate and contemporaneous with Indo-Aryan religious practices of the [[historical Vedic religion]].<ref>{{cite book | title=Jainism: An Introduction |publisher=I. B. Tauris |last=Long |first=Jeffrey D. |date=2009 |location=New York |pages=45–56 |isbn=9781845116262}}</ref> In August 2005, the [[Supreme Court of India]] ruled that Jainism, [[Sikhism]] (and [[Buddhism]]) are distinct religions but are inter-connected and inter-related to [[Hinduism]], so these three are part of wider broader Hindu religion, based on the historic background on how the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]] had come into existence after.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jains, Sikhs part of broader Hindu religion, says SC |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050811/nation.htm#1 |first=S. S. |last=Negi |date=11 August 2005|publisher=Tribune|access-date=11 August 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CASE NO.:Appeal (civil) 4730 of 1999 PETITIONER:Bal Patil & Anr. RESPONDENT:Union of India & Ors. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/08/2005|url=http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27098 |access-date=9 May 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234442/http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27098|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in the 2006 verdict, the Supreme Court found that the "Jain Religion is indisputably not a part of the Hindu Religion".<ref>{{cite web |title=Supreme Court of India Committee of Management Kanya ... vs Sachiv, U. P. Basic Shiksha ... on 21 August, 2006. Author: D. Bhandari Bench: S. B. Sinha, Dalveer Bhandari |url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1241984/}}</ref><ref>para 25, Committee of Management Kanya Junior High School Bal Vidya Mandir, Etah, Uttar Pradesh v. Sachiv, U.P. Basic Shiksha Parishad, Allahabad, U.P. and Ors., Per Dalveer Bhandari J., Civil Appeal No. 9595 of 2003, decided On: 21.08.2006, Supreme Court of India</ref>

==Status in India==
On January 20, 2014, the [[Government of India]] awarded the minority status to the Jain community in India, as per Section 2(c) of the [[National Commission for Minorities]] (NCM) Act (NCM), 1992. This made the Jain community, which makes for 9.5 million or 0.72 percent of the population as per 2011 census, the sixth community to be designated this status as a "national minority", after Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and [[Parsis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/fMzSdy9is9fL2R9QBwWA3I/Govt-grants-minority-status-to-Jain-community.html|title=Govt grants minority status to Jain community |work=livemint.com/ |date=20 January 2014}}</ref> Though Jains already had minority status in 11 states of India including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, in 2005 a petition was filed with Supreme Court of India, by community representatives, which was also backed by the National Minorities Commission. In its judgement the court left the decision to the Central government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jains granted minority status|work=The Hindu |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jains-granted-minority-status/article5598368.ece |date=21 January 2014 |access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eye on votes, UPA gives Jain community minority status |work=Hindustan Times |url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-long-struggle-jains-get-minority-tag/article1-1174960.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140120202313/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-long-struggle-jains-get-minority-tag/article1-1174960.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 January 2014 |date=20 January 2014 |access-date=21 January 2014}}</ref>

==Jainism by state==
Jainism as a religion exists throughout India. Jainism also varies from state to state, but the core values are the same.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Percentage of Jain population by state and union territory (2011 Census)
|-
! State or union territory !! Jain population !! Total population !! Percentage Jain (%)
|-
| [[Jainism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]] || 1,400,349 || 112,374,333 || 1.25
|-
| [[Jainism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]] || 622,023 || 68,548,437 || 0.91
|-
| [[Jainism in Gujarat|Gujarat]] || 579,654 || 60,439,692 || 0.96
|-
| [[Jainism in Madhya Pradesh|Madhya Pradesh]] || 567,028 || 72,626,809 || 0.78
|-
| [[Jainism in Karnataka|Karnataka]] || 440,280 || 61,095,297 || 0.72
|-
| [[Jainism in Delhi|Delhi]] || 166,231 || 16,787,941 || 0.99
|-
| [[Jainism in Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]] || 213,267 || 199,812,341 || 0.11
|-
| [[Jainism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]] || 89,265 || 72,147,030 || 0.12
|-
| [[Jainism in Chhattisgarh|Chhattisgarh]] || 61,510 || 25,545,198 || 0.24
|-
| [[Jainism in West Bengal|West Bengal]] || 60,141 || 91,276,115 || 0.07
|-
| [[Jainism in Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]] || 53,849 || 49,577,103 || 0.11
|-
| [[Jainism in Haryana|Haryana]] || 52,613 || 25,351,462 || 0.21
|-
| [[Jainism in Punjab|Punjab]] || 45,040 || 27,743,338 || 0.16
|-
| [[Jainism in Assam|Assam]] || 25,949 || 31,205,576 || 0.08
|-
| [[Jainism in Bihar|Bihar]] || 18,914 || 104,099,452 || 0.02
|-
| [[Jainism in Jharkhand|Jharkhand]] || 14,974 || 32,988,134 || 0.05
|}

'''Source:''' Data compiled from the Census of India 2011.<ref>Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. "Census of India 2011: Religion Data".</ref>

==Census of India, 2011==
[[File:District wise Jain population percentage India census 2011.png|thumb|left|District wise Jain population percentage India census 2011]]
{{bar box
|title=Jain population in India by State (2011)<ref name="census2011"/>
|titlebar=
|left1=State
|right1=Jains
|float=right
|width=
|bars=
{{bar pixel|[[Maharashtra]]|gold|140||1,400,349}}
{{bar pixel|[[Rajasthan]]|silver|62.2||622,023}}
{{bar pixel|[[Gujarat]]|lime|58||579,654}}
{{bar pixel|[[Madhya Pradesh]]|Burlywood|56.7||567,028}}
{{bar pixel|[[Karnataka]]|navy|44||440,280}}
{{bar pixel|[[Uttar Pradesh]]|black|21.3||213,267}}
{{bar pixel|[[Delhi]]|Green|16.6||166,231}}
{{bar pixel|[[Tamil Nadu]]|red|8.9||89,265}}
{{bar pixel|[[Chhattisgarh]]|DodgerBlue|6.2||61,510}}
{{bar pixel|[[West Bengal]]|aqua|6||60,141}}
{{bar pixel|[[Andhra Pradesh]]|yellow|5.4||53,849}}
{{bar pixel|[[Haryana]]|olive|5.3||52,613}}
{{bar pixel|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]|DarkOrange|4.5||45,040}}
{{bar pixel|[[Assam]]|fuchsia|2.6||25,949}}
{{bar pixel|[[Bihar]]|LimeGreen|1.9||18,914}}
{{bar pixel|[[Jharkhand]]|maroon|1.5||14,974}}
{{bar pixel|Other states|grey|4.1||40,666}}
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|-
|+[[List of districts in India|Indian districts]] having more than 1% Jains in 2011 Census<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html/ |title=Census of India : C-1 Population by Religious Community |access-date=26 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827210435/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html |archive-date=27 August 2015}}</ref>
|-
!District!!State!!Jain Population (approximate)!!Total population!!Jain Percentage (%)
|-
| [[Mumbai City district]]
| rowspan="6"| [[Maharashtra]]
| 166,000
| 3,085,411
| 5.38%
|-
| [[Kolhapur district]]
| 154,882
| 3,876,001
| 4.00%
|-
| [[Mumbai Suburban district]]
| 343,639
| 9,356,962
| 3.67%
|-
| [[Sangli district]]
| 87,453
| 2,822,143
| 3.10%
|-
| [[Thane district]]
| 172,052
| 11,060,148
| 1.56%
|-
| [[Pune district]]
| 127,786
| 9,429,408
| 1.36%
|-
| [[Udaipur district]]
| rowspan="13"| [[Rajasthan]]
| 78,647
| 3,068,420
| 2.56%
|-
| [[Ajmer district]]
| 45,614
| 2,583,052
| 1.77%
|-
| [[Chittorgarh district]]
| 25,843
| 1,544,338
| 1.67%
|-
| [[Tonk district]]
| 22,458
| 1,421,326
| 1.58%
|-
| [[Bhilwara district]]
| 35,149
| 2,408,523
| 1.46%
|-
| [[Kota district]]
| 25,742
| 1,951,014
| 1.32%
|-
| [[Barmer district]]
| 34,010
| 2,603,751
| 1.31%
|-
| [[Bikaner district]]
| 30,850
| 2,363,937
| 1.31%
|-
| [[Rajsamand district]]
| 14,966
| 1,156,597
| 1.29%
|-
| [[Banswara district]]
| 22,613
| 1,797,485
| 1.26%
|-
| [[Jaipur district]]
| 81,079
| 6,626,178
| 1.22%
|-
| [[Bundi district]]
| 13,455
| 1,110,906
| 1.21%
|-
| [[Dungarpur district]]
| 16,141
| 1,388,552
| 1.16%
|-
| [[Ahmedabad district]]
| rowspan="5"| [[Gujarat]]
| 209,287
| 7,214,225
| 2.90%
|-
| [[Surat district]]
| 112,835
| 6,081,322
| 1.86%
|-
| [[Surendranagar district]]
| 22,992
| 1,585,268
| 1.31%
|-
| [[Kutch district]]
| 25,312
| 2,092,371
| 1.21%
|-
| [[Navsari district]]
| 13,386
| 1,329,672
| 1.01%
|-
| [[Sagar district]]
| rowspan="14"| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| 62,992
| 2,378,458
| 2.65%
|-
| [[Indore district]]
| 71,667
| 3,276,697
| 2.19%
|-
| [[Ratlam district]]
| 29,353
| 1,455,069
| 2.02%
|-
| [[Damoh district]]
| 25,005
| 1,264,219
| 1.98%
|-
| [[Ashoknagar district]]
| 15,094
| 845,071
| 1.79%
|-
| [[Neemuch district]]
| 14,165
| 826,067
| 1.71%
|-
| [[Mandsaur district]]
| 19,029
| 1,340,411
| 1.42%
|-
| [[Jabalpur district]]
| 33,728
| 2,463,289
| 1.37%
|-
| [[Vidisha district]]
| 18,490
| 1,458,875
| 1.27%
|-
| [[Ujjain district]]
| 24,622
| 1,986,864
| 1.24%
|-
| [[Bhind district]]
| 19,950
| 1,703,005
| 1.17%
|-
| [[Bhopal district]]
| 25,950
| 2,371,061
| 1.09%
|-
| [[Guna district]]
| 13,474
| 1,241,519
| 1.09%
|-
| [[Tikamgarh district]]
| 15,569
| 1,445,166
| 1.08%
|-
| [[Belagavi district]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Karnataka]]
| 178,310
| 4,779,661
| 3.73%
|-
| [[Dharwad district]]
| 29,037
| 1,847,023
| 1.57%
|-
| [[Bagalkot district]]
| 25,198
| 1,889,752
| 1.33%
|-
| [[Lalitpur district, India|Lalitpur district]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| 20,390
| 1,221,592
| 1.67%
|-
| [[Bagpat district]]
| 16,139
| 1,303,048
| 1.24%
|-
| [[East Delhi]]
| rowspan="5"| [[Delhi]]
| 46,927
| 1,709,346
| 2.75%
|-
| [[North Delhi]]
| 13,049
| 887,978
| 1.47%
|-
| [[North West Delhi]]
| 43,460
| 3,656,539
| 1.19%
|-
| [[North East Delhi]]
| 24,673
| 2,241,624
| 1.10%
|-
| [[Central Delhi]]
| 5,886
| 582,320
| 1.01%
|-
| [[Chennai district]]
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| 51,708
| 4,646,732
| 1.11%
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ Literacy in India by religion<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2016 |title=Jains most literate in North, Muslims the least |url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jains-most-literate-in-north-muslims-the-least/story-iKno2PywCvEZbGmguNFg2N.html |access-date=16 May 2021 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
|-
!Religion!!Literacy Rate
|-
|align=left|[[Jain]]||94.9
|-
|align=left|[[Christianity|Christian]]||84.5
|-
|align=left|[[Buddhist]]||81.3
|-
|align=left|[[Sikh]]||75.4
|-
|align=left|[[Hindu]]||73.3
|-
|align=left|[[Muslim]]||68.5
|-
|}

{{clear}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
*[[List of Jain temples]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url=https://www.mlbd.co.in/shop/jainism-books |edition=2nd |date=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=041526605X |location=London / New York}}
* {{citation |last=Glasenapp |first=Helmuth Von |author-link=Helmuth von Glasenapp |others=Shridhar B. Shrotri (trans.) |title=Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation |date=1999 |location=Delhi |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WzEzXDk0v6sC |isbn=8120813766}}
* Elst, K. (2002). ''Who is a Hindu?: Hindu revivalist views of Animism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other offshoots of Hinduism''. {{ISBN|9788185990743}}

{{Asia in topic|Jainism in}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Religion in India topics}}

[[Category:Jainism in India| ]]
[[Category:Jain communities]]

Jainism in India - Revision history

KristineCharlton at 19:33, 15 February 2026