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THE LEGACY OF MAHAVIR
(Speech as Chief Guest at the 2600th Bhagavan Mahavir JanmKalyanak Celebration held under the auspices of Oshwal Jain Association in London on 6 April 2001)
The 2600th Janm Mahotsav of Tirthankar Mahavir being celebrated in the multi-splendoured city of London, the nerve centre of Western World symbolizes the universality of the deeply compassionate Jain Philosophy. It also reflects the increasingly global spread of Jain community and the resultant heightened awareness about the Jain religion.
Overwhelming majority of Jains present in this gathering are ‘Born-Jains”. However their whole hearted dedication to the propagation of the fundamental tenets of Jainism - AHIMSA, ANEKANT & APARIGRAHA in the western hemisphere with unbounded zeal and energy makes them “Jains reborn'.
I salute you as 'Dharm Doot (Ambassadors of Jain Religion). You have succeeded in establishing a unique identity of Jainism as a Religion of Environment, as a bold and vibrant voice of Non-violence and Peace and as an 'ism' of life ethics for all humanity.
Jain religion is not a static religion with a cult agenda. As one of the most ancient world religions, as many as 24 Tirthankaras (path-finders) have guided its evolution; each one having been a historical figure of highest standing in India at different times in the world's chequered history of 5000 years.
This has helped the Jain religion to continuously evolve in a dynamic setting without deviating from its most fundamental
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