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Jainism is a religion founded in ancient India. Jains trace their history through twenty-four tirthankara and revere Rishabhanatha as the first tirthankara (in the present time-cycle). The last two tirthankara, the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha (c. 9th–8th century BCE) and the 24th tirthankara Mahavira (c. 599 – c. 527 BCE) are considered historical figures. According to Jain texts, the 22nd tirthankara Neminatha lived about 84,000 years ago and was the cousin of Krishna.[1]
The two main sects of Jainism, the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara sects, likely started forming around the 1st century CE, and the schism was complete by about the 5th century CE.[2] These sects later subdivided into several sub-sects, such as Sthānakavāsī and Terapanthis after a misinterpretation of scriptures. The Digambara sect divided into Taranpanth, Terapanth, and Bispanth.[3] Many of its historic temples that still exist today were built in the 1st millennium CE. After the 12th century, the temples, pilgrimage, and Jain ascetics suffered persecution during the Muslim rule, with the exception of Akbar, whose religious tolerance and support for Jainism led to a temporary ban on animal killing during the Jain religious festival of Paryushana as a result of efforts made by the Śvetāmbara monk Hiravijayasuri.[4][5][6]