Jainism vs. Superheroes

What do Dr Strange, Spider-Man, and Iron Man have in common?

Haven’t you realised that almost every superhero story begins with  trauma, leads to violence, and ends in vengeance?! It’s a formula baked into modern storytelling that it’s become the default for heroism. But what if we imagined a different kind of hero, one who doesn’t fight crime, but prevents it by transforming the world itself? One who seeks victory not through force, but through self-mastery, compassion, and radical nonviolence?

Jainism, one of the world’s oldest living religions, is built on a powerful concept: that true heroism happens within. The spiritual heroes of Jainism: Tirthankaras, monks, and nuns don’t conquer cities or alien invasions. They conquer anger, ego, greed, and ignorance. The word Jina itself means “victor” not over enemies, but over the self.

Most superheroes solve problems by attacking them. Jainism suggests the greatest power is not how hard you hit but how deeply you refuse to harm. Ahimsa is one of the three pillars in Jainism where, in a  world obsessed with conflict, this principle feels almost radical yet it’s deeply relevant today.

Imagine a superhero whose power is absolute compassion, someone who doesn’t just stop villains, but transforms them. Not through force, but through understanding.

It sounds idealistic until you remember that Mahatma Gandhiji (inspired heavily by Jainism) literally used nonviolence to defeat the entire British Empire. For us especially, this idea hits close to home. School/ University often trains us to compete, outperform, and “win” sometimes at the expense of empathy, balance, or mental health. Jainism offers a counter-model: the real challenge isn’t beating others, but mastering yourself. Again as my mum always says “you are your own competition”. In a world of deadlines, grades, and pressure, be the one who chooses mindfulness over burnout, compassion over rivalry, and inner calm over external chaos.

Jainism reminds us that the greatest “hero” narrative isn’t about defeating others but about defeating our own harmful impulses. And in its own quiet way, that’s a more revolutionary narrative than any billionaire with a metal suit or alien with laser vision could teach. Maybe the most powerful superhero is the one who refuses to fight at all. Let us know if you agree!