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and non-violent struggle of freedom from colonial rule.
As a “Veetaragi” (detached) Mahavir became the ever-shining symbol of renunciation and aparigraha when he gave up all his royal comforts and luxuries and took to the path of vrat and tapasya to cleanse his soul, revitalize inner soul energy, gain deep knowledge and profound wisdom and to promote social commitment to the culture of non-violence.
Mahavir incessantly preached that the essence of Jain teaching is that the growth of attachment and possessiveness in a human soul is the beginning of violence and by the same token, an effort to cultivate detachment and renunciation is the beginning of the development of the culture of non-violence.
“Purushartha Siddhyupai” in shloka 44 says: अप्रादुर्भावः खलु रागादिनां भवत्यहिंसोति । तेषामेवोत्पत्तिर्हिसेति जिनागमस्य संक्षेपः ॥
The same concept has been in a “Gatha” in “Kashaya Pahuď:
रागादीण मणुप्पा अहिंसगत्तं ति दैदिदं समये । तेसिं चे उप्पत्ती हिंसेत्ति जिर्णेहि णिद्दिट्ठा ॥
☆ Mahavir worked tirelessly for the emancipation of women and the downtrodden. Mahavir accepted food from poor Chandana, transformed her life and she rose to the post of Pravartini and enjoyed rights equal to a senior Acharya in the Sangha. Among the Sadhvis in Bhagavan Mahavir's Sangha were many learned women like Kali, Sukali, Mahakali, Krsna, Devananda Brahmi, and Sundari. They were drawn from “all” castes ranging from Brahmins to Kshatriyas to other
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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