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Also it would not be fail to consider Sallekhang as a form of suicide or himsa practised by Jaina sadhus and munis. There are elaborate rules about Sallekhana (voluntary death) in Jainism This voluntary death is to be distinguished from suicide which Jainism looks upon as a cowardly sin
In his essay Jainism and Modern Lrfe Shri C. C Shah has emphasized that Jainism is an ethical religion and rightly stressed the need for a critical re-examination of its religious practices to suit the needs of modern life.
Dr, H D Sankalia, Shri Sadashiv Gorakshkar and Dr. Umakant P. Shah have discussed the Jaina contribution to Indian ait and architecture and its significance Urmi Bhagwatı in her essay has enlisted the bibliographical aids for the study of Jainism
Except for certain misconceptions which I have noted above this collection of essays is a welcome contribution towards an understanding of Jaina philosophy, ieligion, culture and art and I commend warmly Dr Vishwanath Pandey's efforts in bringing it together
SHRIYANS PRASAD JAIN
