Jain monasticism#Mahavratas

Mahavrata (Sanskrit, n, महाव्रत, mahavrata, " great vows " ) refers to a great universal vows at the Jains. The individual mahavratas became known eventually applied by Mahatma Gandhi, whose teachings Jainist in thought.

The Jain monks follow five great vows ( vratas ):

• Non-violence ( Ahimsa )
• Truthfulness ( Satya )
• Non - stealing ( Achaurya )
• Chastity ( brahmacharya )
• The world will not be arrested ( Aparigraha )

Jain monks are celibate, do not have hands and are not bound to a specific site. They are forced to migrate, except during the four-month rainy season. The vows of Jain monks are very strict and have been described in classic texts such as the Acharanga. They supposedly go back to the teachings of Mahavira.

For lay people, who are married and have goods, there is a similar set of rules to vows, called Anuvratas.

The Yama in yoga are very much like the mahavratas.