Why did Mahavira teach nonviolence toward all living creatures?

Mahavira taught nonviolence, or ahimsa, because it is the fundamental path to spiritual purity and the salvation of the soul (jiva). In Jainism, all living beings are considered to possess a soul, and causing injury—whether through physical action, speech, or thought—results in the accumulation of karma.1234

This karma acts as a fine particulate substance that contaminates the soul, keeping it trapped in samsara, the cycle of rebirth. By practicing extreme nonviolence and asceticism, Mahavira taught that individuals could prevent this contamination, purify their souls, and ultimately attain liberation.351

Furthermore, Mahavira’s emphasis on ahimsa emerged during a period of significant social and religious change in India, where there was growing opposition to Vedic sacrifices that involved the killing of animals. By advocating for the sanctity of all life, Mahavira provided a moral framework that rejected unnecessary violence and encouraged his followers to live in a way that minimizes harm to all creatures, from large animals to microscopic beings.13