Jainism

Jainism : It's origins are in ancient India, around the 6th Century,  with one of the main beliefs being that no harm is to come to any living creature. 

"Friendship to all living forms, 

delight in the qualities of the virtuous ones, 

unlimited compassion for all suffering beings, 

equanimity toward all who wish me harm, 

may my soul have these dispositions, now and forever."

-- Jain prayer

The Jains believe in no harm to others and complete asceticism (characterized by a lifestyle of abstinence and denial of self pleasure, including family members, aesthetic belongings, monetary items, et al. )

The sacred person (or persons in this case) are the 24 Tirthankaras, "ford-makers", the religions itself centers on sacred images and mantras. Mahāvīra was the final  of the 24 Tirthankaras,  a sacred sage who is said to have established the

sacred tenets of the Jain.  He is referred to by many different names throughout India, eg: Vira, Sanmati, and Gnatputra to name a few. Mahavira thought that in order for the men and women to know the real truth, they must leave their homes and belongings and practice mahimsa, the 

 The Jain lead their lives in a way as to delete the "karma's" attached to their souls, and in doing so, reaching ultimate liberation. This is attained by doing good, treating other living beings with respect and if needed, working toward your own death in a ritualistic starving of the body. This starving of the body can take up to 18 months, as they slowly diminish the food intake, one by one, until they are only taking in water, and then renounce even the water. 
As Jainism as a religion is not about seeking happiness, eternal or otherwise, it is by itself in this type of religion that one wonders about penance itself. The basic ideals of Jains are to keep the world safe, all living things then are equal. The entire time is spent renunciating and paying a type of penance to get rid of the bad Karma's attached to you.