Jainism (/ˈdʒeɪnɪzəm, ˈdʒaɪnɪzəm/ JAY-niz-əm, JEYE-niz-əm), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion which teaches a path toward spiritual purification. Its salvational goal for ascetics is to reach moksha (liberation), while for most Jain laypersons it is to accumulate good karma that leads to better rebirth and a step closer to liberation. According to Jain beliefs, vibrational energy (virya) draws karmic particles to the soul and creates bondages. Purification of soul from karmic particles and thereby liberation can be achieved through ratnatraya, the path of the three jewels, namely samyak darśana, correct faith in the Jain teachings; samyak gyana, correct knowledge and understanding of those teachings; and samyak charitra, correct conduct, behavior consistent with the five vows. The core of Jainism is also summarized in the three tenets of ahiṃsā (nonviolence), aparigraha (asceticism), and anekāntavāda, a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality.

Jains consider Jainism to be an eternal dharma, with the tirthankaras guiding every time cycle of the cosmology. In Jain cosmology, there is a succession of twenty-four tirthankaras, supreme preachers of dharma, across the avasarpiṇī, the descending half of the time cycle in which the good and religion are decreasing. The first tirthankara in the current cycle is Rishabhadeva, who tradition holds lived millions of years ago; the 23rd tirthankara is Parshvanatha, traditionally dated to the 9th century BCE; and the 24th tirthankara is Mahavira, who lived c. the 6th or 5th century BCE.

Historically, Jainism was one of a number of Śramaṇa religions that developed in the Greater Magadha cultural region. Jainism has two major sub-traditions, Digambaras and Śvētāmbaras, which hold different views on ascetic practices, gender, and the texts considered canonical. Both sub-traditions have mendicants supported by laypersons (śrāvakas and śrāvikas). The Śvētāmbara tradition in turn has two sub-traditions: Deravasi, also known as Mandirmargis, and Sthānakavasī. The Digambara-texts attributed to Kundakunda inspired Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901), who in turn influenced Kanji Swami (Kanji Path), Dada Bhagwan, Rakesh Jhaveri (Shrimad Rajchandra Mission), Saubhagbhai, Lalluji Maharaj (Laghuraj Swami), Atmanandji and several other religious figures. According to Bauer, "[in] recent years there has been a convergence of the Kanji Swami Panth and the Shrimad Rajcandra movement, part of trend toward a more eucumenical and less sectarian Jainism among educated, mobile Jains living overseas."

Currently, the religion has between four and five million followers, known as Jains or Jainas, who reside mostly in India, where they numbered around 4.5 million at the 2011 census. Outside India, some of the largest Jain communities can be found in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Japan is also home to a fast-growing community of converts. Major festivals include Paryushana and Das Lakshana, Ashtanika, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, Akshaya Tritiya, and Diwali.

The name Jainism comes fromji (Sanskrit), "to conquer," referring to the battle against the passions and bodily desires, aiming to reach omniscience. Those few who accomplish this are called jina, "conqueror." Adherents are called jain or jaina, "follower of the conquerors," a term which replaced the older name nirgrantha, bondless, which was only used for ascetic wanderers.

Followers of Jainism are called "Jains", a word derived from the Sanskrit verbal root ji, which means to conquer. In the Jain context, monks have to conquer their senses and karma for liberation. Those who have succeeded are jinas (victors), which means an omniscient person who teaches the path of salvation, and their followers are Jains.

The spiritual goal in Jainism is to reach moksha for ascetics, but for most Jain laypersons, it is to accumulate good karma that leads to better rebirth and a step closer to liberation. Purification of soul and liberation can be achieved through the three jewels (ratnatraya): samyak darśana, right vision or faith in the Jain teachings or scriptures, more specifically the seven tattvas; samyak gyana, right knowledge and understanding of the Jain teachings, more specifically of self (jiva) and non-self (ajiva); and samyak charitra, correct conduct, behavior consistent with these teachinngs and the five vows. Jain texts often add samyak tapas (correct asceticism) as a fourth jewel, emphasizing belief in ascetic practices as the means to liberation (moksha). The four jewels are called Moksha Marga (the path of liberation).

The core of Jainism is also summarized in the three tenets of ahiṃsā (nonviolence), aparigraha (asceticism), and anekāntavāda, a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality.