Jainism is one of the oldest religions and was founded in the 6th century BC in India. Vardhamana, known to his disciples as Mahavira, is traditionally known as the founder of Jainism. Mahavira was born in 599 BC in Bihar, India. His parents belonged to the Kashatriya caste. Mahavira was born in a rich family. His father was King Siddartha. He lived a life of luxury. Later, Mahavira married Princess Yasoda. They had a daughter named Anoja. Throughout this period, Mahavira was not happy. He decided to abandon all his wealth, his luxury and his loved ones in search of a religious answer to his misfortune. Mahavira went out first and joined the ascetics. With them, he didn't find what he was looking for. He believed that one must practice extreme asceticism to liberate the soul from life. Mahavira also believed that to find liberation one must practice ahimsa, which means not harming life. To find total liberation from life, Mahavira imposed extreme measures of asceticism. He didn't want to get attached to people or things, he never stayed more than one night in the same place. He swept the road before walking so as not to step on any insects. He also filtered the water he drank to avoid swallowing any living creatures that might live in it. Mahavira tormented his body by staying in the coldest places during winter and the hottest places in summer. He always walked around naked. He only ate the food given to him. He would avoid meat, because an animal would have to die, so Mahavira was a vegetarian. After twelve long years of the most extreme asceticism, Mahavira achieved mokaha (liberation) from the bonds that bind the soul to the endless cycle of births. , death and rebirth. Thus, Mahavira achieved liberation from karma. Mahavira taught that karma accumulated over time was the result of any type of activity. So, for a Jian to escape karma and become free from life (reincarnation), he must do as little as possible. Jains believe that the world is made up of two substances. One is jiva (soul) and the other is ajiva (matter). The soul is life and matter is evil. Matter clings to the body because of past actions. As long as the soul is attached to matter, it cannot be freed from the cycle of lives..