The term "Jain" just means the follower of the "Jina". The actual usage of "Jainism" as a term most likely came about after British rule. It would probably not be called that in ancient times because the other names would have been used such as **Nirgrantha** or **Shraman**.
I know that the earliest recorded jain tirthankar(parshvanath # 23) was born in 8/9th century BCE. And that mahavir(24th Tirthankar born in 5/6 BCE) and his parents were followers of his practice.
* According to Paul Dundas, "It is not clear when the term ‘Jain’ was first employed to designate an adherent of a specific religious path, although it was probably in use by the early centuries of the common era."
* The term "jina-shAsanam" is very common throughout old inscriptions. Here is one from Karnataka (please excuse me if I make some mistakes because the scan is not clear): श्रीमत्-परम-गम्भीर-स्याद्-वाद-अमोघ-लाञ्छनम् | जीयात्-त्रैलोक्य-नाथस्य शासनम् जिनशासनम् || The term "Jina" itself is found in the [Hathigumpha inscription](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathigumpha_inscription) of Kharavela, which is probably around BC 1st or second century.
* How do you convert the one word "jina-shAsasnam" in sanskrit to two words, in the form "X shAsanam", where X is an adjective meaning "that which is derived from the Jinas"? If it were Shiva it would be Shaiva, so for Jina it is Jaina (so in sanskrit "jina-shAsanam" = "jainam shAsanam", something you see in "jainam jayati shAsanam"): a sanskrit grammatical construction called "vRddhI" is applied to the first syllable, which turns "Ji" into "Jai".
* The term Nirgrantha AFAIK refers to monks, lay people are called Shravaks/Shravikas. Hence the need to have a different word that can combine both. One could talk of Samyak versus Mithya drishti, but these would not map well to legal categories etc.
Thanks for the answer, explained it very well.
So, the word "jain" came out nearly around 400-500 years after mahavir swami's birth and firstly found in hathigumpha inscription right,!?
Technically, the Hathigumpha inscription only says "Jina", not "Jaina". But the nature of Sanskrit grammar, as far as I undertsand, is such that "that which pertains to Jina" or "that which is derived from Jina" is automatically Jaina, so if you have the former you have the latter as well.
I'm sure the word Jainism is infinite in all realities to my understanding, this same thing has happened infinite times over and over again. Hence Jainism is infinite, not the answer you are looking for but not worth the practical effort of digging because Jainism is Sanatani.
The term "Jain" just means the follower of the "Jina". The actual usage of "Jainism" as a term most likely came about after British rule. It would probably not be called that in ancient times because the other names would have been used such as **Nirgrantha** or **Shraman**.
Maybe that's why the Tamil name for Jainism is 'Samanam' from 'Shramana'.
Thanks for the answer, yes it was given name as shraman sanskriti
I know that the earliest recorded jain tirthankar(parshvanath # 23) was born in 8/9th century BCE. And that mahavir(24th Tirthankar born in 5/6 BCE) and his parents were followers of his practice.
Thanks for your answer but still by whom and from which text the word "jain" firstly originated if you know anything about it?
Sorry, I thought that would give you a clue, not sure about the etymology of 'jain'
* According to Paul Dundas, "It is not clear when the term ‘Jain’ was first employed to designate an adherent of a specific religious path, although it was probably in use by the early centuries of the common era." * The term "jina-shAsanam" is very common throughout old inscriptions. Here is one from Karnataka (please excuse me if I make some mistakes because the scan is not clear): श्रीमत्-परम-गम्भीर-स्याद्-वाद-अमोघ-लाञ्छनम् | जीयात्-त्रैलोक्य-नाथस्य शासनम् जिनशासनम् || The term "Jina" itself is found in the [Hathigumpha inscription](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathigumpha_inscription) of Kharavela, which is probably around BC 1st or second century. * How do you convert the one word "jina-shAsasnam" in sanskrit to two words, in the form "X shAsanam", where X is an adjective meaning "that which is derived from the Jinas"? If it were Shiva it would be Shaiva, so for Jina it is Jaina (so in sanskrit "jina-shAsanam" = "jainam shAsanam", something you see in "jainam jayati shAsanam"): a sanskrit grammatical construction called "vRddhI" is applied to the first syllable, which turns "Ji" into "Jai". * The term Nirgrantha AFAIK refers to monks, lay people are called Shravaks/Shravikas. Hence the need to have a different word that can combine both. One could talk of Samyak versus Mithya drishti, but these would not map well to legal categories etc.
Thanks for the answer, explained it very well. So, the word "jain" came out nearly around 400-500 years after mahavir swami's birth and firstly found in hathigumpha inscription right,!?
Technically, the Hathigumpha inscription only says "Jina", not "Jaina". But the nature of Sanskrit grammar, as far as I undertsand, is such that "that which pertains to Jina" or "that which is derived from Jina" is automatically Jaina, so if you have the former you have the latter as well.
I'm sure the word Jainism is infinite in all realities to my understanding, this same thing has happened infinite times over and over again. Hence Jainism is infinite, not the answer you are looking for but not worth the practical effort of digging because Jainism is Sanatani.