Jainism
The word ‘Jin’ from which Jain is derived means ‘the person who is a spiritual victor’. Thus the self-conquest on his/her own lower nature is given the highest priority in Jainism.
The avoidance of harm (ahimsa) to sentient beings is the most important of Jain principles, with consequences for everyday actions regarding diet, ethics and occupational decision-making. Consciousness is understood in terms of the senses, with Jains recognising a hierarchy of living creatures from algae and plants to humans and heavenly beings. Moksha, or release, may only be achieved when the soul’s passage from one life-form to another ceases as a result of successful spiritual progress based on right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
Although there are two Jain monastic orders in India, the Shvetambara and Digambara, only new renunciates are permitted to travel abroad to teach. However, even as lay people, Jains in Britain, of whom there are about 15,000, may keep certain vows, especially ahimsa, eating a strict vegetarian diet and avoiding certain root vegetables and eggs. With only a small number of families in Yorkshire and the Humber, they frequently visit communities in Leicester and London and go to temples (mandirs) there, though they also attend the Hindu Temple in Leeds where a murti of Mahavir (the 24th tirthankara) was installed in 2001 by the Yorkshire Jain Foundation. Key festivals include Mahavira Jayanti and Paryushana-parva (for fasting and confession).
More information on Jainism from the BBC website