The Resume

( -527 BC)
24th Jainist Tirthankara

Why he might be annoying:

He was a prince.
He walked around barefoot.
Some believe he founded Jainism, but he did not. He was the last of their spiritual leaders.
Scholars and believers argue over the date of his birth and death.
He was into fasting and chastity.
He was a vegetarian.
He believed that the right way of living was to reject one's own desires.
He believed he had perfect knowledge (enlightenment) after he meditated and ignored everyone for twelve and a half years.
In the years after his death the complex rituals adopted by the Jains made him comparable to a Hindu god, even though Jainism specifically denies the existence of one.
He was not nearly as influential as his contemporary Siddhartha Gautama.
In fact, he was sort of a Siddhartha Gautama knock-off.
Jainism is moribund, with only an estimated 4 million still practicing worldwide.

Why he might not be annoying:

He had more than 400,000 followers after he gave up his wealth.
He urged his followers not to steal, speak the truth and not to harm any living beings.
He believed men and women were essentially the same spiritually.
He was able to convince those of all classes of his beliefs.
One of his greatest pursuits in his twelve and a half year silence was specifically not to annoy others.
Throngs of people would beat on him, cut him and pull his hair while he meditated to see if he could feel it. According to legend, he did not.
He encouraged others to believe in right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
He gave up his significant wealth in order to pursue religious truth.
Though he did not create Jainism, he reformed, organized and defined the Jainist community.

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Ancient Times
• Ancient Times: Asia
• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 4]
• Known By a Single Name
• Look at Me, I Got My Arms Folded
• Look at Me, I'm Doing Yoga
• Look at Me, I'm Naked
• Look at Me, I'm Preachin'
• Profiles 16251-16500 (Ranked: 16383)
• Religion's 100 Most Influential People (Ranked: 100)
• Religious Icons
• Transcendental Meditaters [TM]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 47 Votes: 51.06% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 50 Votes: 68.00% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 41 Votes: 70.73% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 61.76% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 91 Votes: 67.03% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 117 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying