Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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surrendered or retreated in face of foreign invaders. On the contrary there are ample evidences in Indian history when Jain rulers and Jains in general sacrificed everything for the freedom of the country. About twenty-one centuries back the state of Kalinga (the general area now known as Orissa) was under the rule of Khāravela. Three hundred years before that Ghanānanda, the king of Pātalīputra (modern Patna) attacked Kalinga and took the image of Kalinga Jina, the most popular object of worship by the people of Kalinga, to Pātalīputra. The people of Kalinga could not forget this insult. To avenge this insult King Khāravela marched with his large army to launch his attack on King Bșhaspati Mitra, the then ruler of Pātalīputra. On the way he got the news that the Greek conqueror Demetrius has invaded India and has reached Mathura crushing the Hindu kings in his way. Khāravela thought that Bịhaspati is an Indian ruler, he could be punished later. Demitrius is a foreign invader and if he got a chance to establish his rule, the country will loose its independence. With these thoughts he turned his armies towards Mathura. When Demitrius came to know of this he retreated from Mathura. But Khāravela did not stop there; he chased and pushed Demitrius across the Indus River. He rested only after throwing the invader out of the country.
Bhāmāśāha gave all his wealth to Mahārāņa Pratāpa for the defense of his nation. It was not a meager sum. It was enough to provide for twenty five thousand soldiers to fight a war for twelve years.
Jainism has always been against slavery. It does not even accept subjugation by an incorporeal imaginary God. It is the only religion that preaches to get the soul liberated from the bondage of karmas in order to attain freedom and the status of supreme-soul. Only the brave can observe the Jain ahimsā. It is not a religion of weaklings.
The reason for India's subordination is the doctrine of divine incarnations and blind faith of Brahmins. When Muslim invaders launched their onslaught on temples in Varanasi and Somanath the priests, devotees and even the kings sat in the temples and beat gongs and drums with the hope that the kind G will rush bare feet to help his devotees. But the God did not rush bare feet or otherwise. The Muslim armies plundered and looted wealth worth millions, disfigured the image of the deity, slaughtered a large number of people, and took
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