Ahimsa: The practice of non-violence and reverence for life. Ahimsa forbids the taking of animal life at any level.

Digambaras: The sect of Jainism that insists on going naked, as did the Mahavira, when duty called for it.

Five Great Vows: The principle of self-denial, central to Jain belief, which includes the renunciation of (1) killing living things, (2) lying, (3) greed, (4) sexual pleasure, and (5) worldly attachments.

Jains: The designation for the disciples of Mahavira the Jina (the Conqueror.)

Jina: Literally, “the conqueror.” The designation given to Mahavira for his achievement of victory over his bodily desires. His disciples were thus named Jains.

Mahavira: An honorific title meaning “great man,” given to the founder of Jainism.

Nirgrantha: Literally, “naked one.” A person who practices asceticism in accordance with Jain principles.

Sallakhana: The rite of voluntary self-starvation which, according to tradition, took the life of Mahavira’s parents.

Shvetambaras: “The white clad,” one of the two main sects of Jainism. The Shvetambaras are the liberal wing who believe in wearing at least one garment in contrast to the Digambaras, who insist on wearing nothing when duty demands.

Sthanakvasis: A Jain sect that worships everywhere, not allowing for idols or temples.

Tirthankara: A savior being. According to Jain belief, Mahavira is the 24th Tirthankara, the last and greatest of the savior beings.

Twelve Angas: The part of the sacred scriptures of Jainism which holds the foremost position.

Venerable One: One of the titles given to the Mahavira by his later disciples.

Young Jains of America

JAINA – Federation of Jain Association in North America

AtmaDharma.Com – A very good resource on Jainism

JainWorld.Com – Jain Center Contacts, Comprehancive List of Jain Magazines, Books, Email Bulletins, Jain Food & Ingradients Guide, Clothing Guide, Jain Calendar, List of Jain Scholars in Canada/U.S.A., Unparalled list of Jainism Related Links, Jain Education

Jainism Database – Lot of good stuff, electronically available

http://www.jainism.free-online.co.uk/

http://www.aditi.net/Jain/

http://www.jainspirit.org

http://www.angelfire.com/co/jainism/

http://arham.com/index.htm

Jain Student Group at University of Michigan – Good source on Jain Material, stories and more

Jainism Site by Haren Shah : An Excellent site on Jainism

Jainism Resource Center on Harvard.Edu ***

Buy books on Jainism and other religion in India

Jain Temple Listing

http://www.allfaithspress.com/

http://www.jainheritage.com/

http://www.jainism.org

http://sunsite.unc.edu/jainism

http://www.utexas.edu/depts/das/.html/main.html

http://www.utexas.edu/students/yja

http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/jainclip.html

http://www.jiva.org

http://www.wizard.net/~ethan/ahimsa.htm

Jain News

Bandhu Triputi Maharaj’s Website

Web Dunia : Jainism Resouces

Anekant.Org : Good stuff for kids and other Jain Material

Jainism Links for Kids on AppuKids.com

International Mahavir Jain Mission

Acharya Kanaknandi and Jainism

Vegiterian Resource

Vegan.Com

The Vegiterian Resource Group

Jain Clip art

Jainism Potpourri

Jaino Jago!

Jain SansarOnline – Good eBooks on Jainism

Jains Text resources

http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/jainh.html

Other Good Jainism Links

http://www.jaintirth.org/

Shrimad Rajchandra

http://ddb.com/~raphael/jain-list/

Jain Mailing List (Become a member)

http://members.aol.com/JivDaya

Jain Tirth

Young Jains – London

http://www.tripod.com/~jain

http://www.tiac.net/users/vrc/vrc.html

Email Bulletins on Jainism, Jain Agams Info

Jain Rituals : Documented

Jain Books : Electronically Documented

http://www.gl.umbc.edu/~ashah3

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~pka/guides/jain.html

Jain Study Center of North Carolina