The three main religions of India; Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are all responses to the Aryan religion of Brahmanism. The Aryans came to power in India around 1000 BC, and as their political influence spread, their religious beliefs followed in its wake. Two fundamental beliefs of Brahmanism are samsara and karma. Samsara deals with the cyclical nature of the soul and how death only leads to rebirth in a new form. Depending on the count of a person's good and bad deeds, which is considered karma, determines whether or not the next reincarnation will be an improvement or a disappointment. However, if one could fully understand that life is actually an illusion and that the only way to escape the infinite cycle of reincarnation is to realize that reality is immutable, one could ascend above the infinite cycle of birth, life and death. According to the Aryan priests, those who transcend the cycle of life will become one with Brahman and enter an eternity of blissful non-being. From Brahmanism emerged Jainism, which adopted both beliefs of karma and reincarnation, but expanded the realm of which life forms were eligible for rebirth and, ultimately, enlightenment. The founder of Jainism was Vardhamana Maharvira who became an ascetic, renouncing his privileged status as the son of the regional leader and took on the role of a wandering holy man. After twelve years of wandering in austere conditions, Maharvira achieved enlightenment and became “a complete soul”. However, instead of ascending above the karmic chaos of the world, Maharvira remained on Earth to share his teachings for the next thirty years. Later followers of Jainism believed that everything inhabiting the world has a money... means of paper... a moral law that encourages Hindus to engage in activities aimed at material gain as long as it is obtained honestly. ; 3. pursue pleasure and love as long as they are aimed at the perpetuation of the family; 4. finally, obtain "moksha" which is liberation from the wheel of life and become one with Brahman. In all three religions that have taken root in India one can find a common thread in the goal of leaving this world in better terms than one entered it. Regardless of the path you take, whether Jain, Buddha or Hindu, you seem destined to have the opportunity to improve on any mistakes you make in life until you get it right. However, proponents of Hinduism, at least, appear to have considered enjoying the life one currently lives, more than Buddhism and certainly more than Jainism.Works CitedHistory of World Societies