The first references to reincarnation are tied historically to the sramana tradition, which practices

Jainism.[10] The soul and matter are viewed in Jainism as eternal, uncreated, and permanent.
The continual interaction of the two causes perplexing cosmic manifestations in the physical,
psychological, and emotional domains all around us. This gave rise to the notions of rebirth and
transmigration. The fundamental tenet of Jain philosophy is that spirit and matter can change but
cannot be completely destroyed. As a result, life as we currently understand it transitions to
another kind of existence after death depending on the virtues and flaws it gathered in its
previous life. Being honest and practicing non-violence are the ways to reach the status of a
supreme soul.
Intricately linked to other Jain philosophical ideas like transmigration, rebirth, liberation,
nonviolence (ahimsa), and non-attachment, among others, karma plays a vital and important role
in the Jain religion. It is believed that every action has a reaction, which may be instantaneous,
delayed, or even extend into a future existence. Therefore, the idea of karma is taken into
account in connection to both past lives and future incarnations, in addition to only one lifetime.
"The cause of birth and death is karma. "Whatever misery or pleasure a soul may be
experiencing in its present life is on account of decisions that it has made in the past. The souls
bound by karma travel round and round in the cycle of existence." Because of this idea, Jainism
gives morality and purity of thought the highest priority.
The Jain writings provide four gatis, or birth types or stages of life, for the soul to reincarnate
through. Deva (demi-gods), manussya (humans), nraki (hell creatures), and tiryaca are the four
gatis (animals, plants, and micro-organisms). In the vertically tiered Jain universe, the four gatis
have four corresponding realms or habitation levels: demi-gods inhabit the higher levels, where
the heavens are located; humans, plants, and animals inhabit the middle levels; and hellish beings
inhabit the lower levels, where the seven hells are located.
Within the framework of this cosmology of fates, a soul transmigrates and reincarnates according
to its karma. The four primary fates are subsequently broken down into smaller subcategories.
Overall, Jain literature describe an 8.4 million-birth-destiny cycle in which souls again
rediscover themselves as they cycle through samsara.
In Jainism, God has no bearing on a person's fate; rather, a person's fate is considered as the
product of its own personal karma rather than as the outcome of any kind of reward or
punishment system. Violent acts, the killing of beings with five senses, eating fish, and other
similar behaviors result in reincarnation in hell. In the animal and vegetative kingdoms, deceit,
deception, and lie bring about rebirth. Kindness, compassion, and humility give rise to human
birth, whereas self-denial, vow-making, and vow-keeping bring about rebirth in paradise. Thus,
each soul is in charge of both its own suffering and redemption.