query: religion kundakunda
supports: West Bengal is an Indian state, located in East India on the Bay of Bengal. It is India's fourth-most populous state, with over 91 million inhabitants. It has a total area of , making it similar in size to Serbia. A part of the ethno-linguistic Bengal region, it borders Bangladesh in the east and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. It also has borders with five Indian states, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Assam. Odisha(formerly Orissa) (() is one of the 29 states of India, located in the eastern coast. It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the north-east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to the south and south-west. Odisha has of coastline along the Bay of Bengal on its east, from Balasore to Malkangiri. It is the 9th largest state by area, and the 3rd largest by tribal population .Odia (formerly known as "Oriya") is the official and most widely spoken language, spoken by 33.2 million according to the 2001 Census. Maharashtra (Marathi:  pronunciation: , abbr. MH) is a state in the western region of India and is India's third-largest state by area and is also the world's second-most populous sub-national entity. It has over 112 million inhabitants and its capital, Mumbai, has a population of approximately 18 million. Nagpur is Maharashtra's second capital as well as its winter capital. Maharashtra's business opportunities along with its potential to offer a higher standard of living attract migrants from all over India. Acharya Kundakunda is the most revered Digambara Jain monk , who lived in around 1st century B.C. He authored many Jain texts such as : Samayasara , Niyamasara , Pancastikayasara , Pravachanasara , Atthapahuda and Barasanuvekkha . He occupies the highest place in the tradition of the Jain acharyas . Buddhism (or ) is a religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. Buddhism originated in India sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, from where it spread through much of Asia, whereafter it declined in India during the middle ages. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravada (Pali: "The School of the Elders") and Mahayana (Sanskrit: "The Great Vehicle"). Buddhism is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 500 million followers or 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists. Niyamasara is a Jain text authored by "Acharya Kundakunda", a Digambara Jain acharya. It is described by its commentators as the Bhagavat Shastra. It expounds the path to liberation. In Indian religions and society, an acharya (IAST: ) is a preceptor or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and secular contexts. It is also a Brahmin surname found in Nepal and across India, including Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra. Hinduism is a religion, or a way of life, found most notably in India and Nepal. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as "", "the eternal law," or the "eternal way," beyond human origins. Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse roots and no founder. This "Hindu synthesis" started to develop between 500 BCE and 300 CE following the Vedic period (1500 BCE to 500 BCE). Jainism (or ), traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion belonging to the "ramaa" tradition. The central tenet is non-violence and respect towards all living beings. The three main principles of Jainism are "ahimsa" (non-violence), "anekantavada" (non-absolutism) and "aparigraha" (non-possessiveness). Followers of Jainism take five main vows: "ahimsa" (non-violence), "satya" (not lying), "asteya" (not stealing), "brahmacharya" (chastity) and "aparigraha" (non-attachment). Jain monks and nuns observe these vows absolutely whereas householders ("rvakas") observe them within their practical limitations. Self-discipline and asceticism are thus major focuses of Jainism. Notably, Mahatma Gandhi was greatly influenced by Jainism and adopted many Jain principles in his life. Indian religions, also termed as Dharmic faiths or religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent; namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism that follow the rules of Dharma. These religions are also classified as Eastern religions. Although Indian religions are connected through the history of India, they constitute a wide range of religious communities, and are not confined to the Indian subcontinent.
candidates: buddhism hindu hinduism india jainism mahayana theravada
answer: jainism