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________________ The Cardinal Tenets of Mahavira and Jainism 121 coming to the focus of the nation's attention. It was the cradle of the ancient Republican confederacy of the Licchav's, Vrijis and the Mallas. It is a remarkable feature of the history of Vaisali that the mighty Licchavi clans were eqally jealous of their political independence and their spiritual glory. Buddhism and Jainism, both have had their roots in its soil and both these religious movements contributed to the developments of balanced mentality which saved the people from the corrosive influence of martial power and material prosperity. We are commemorating today the birth of Mahavira, the historical prophet of the Jaina religion. It is a matter of congratulation that the Jaina religion still maintains its distinctive individuality both in the organisation of order of ascetics, and the lay community which is remarkable for its commercial enterprise and its super-abundant wealth. Though Jainism capnot claim to have the patronage and support of the Ksatriya rulers as in the past, it still maintains its hold on a considerable part of the mercantile community of India. The lay followers of Mahavira's creed have won the admiration of all and sundry for their strict adherence to the principle of 'Ahinsa', non-injury to living beings. The contributions of the Jaina monks in the fields of Logic, Ethics, and Metaphysics have not been inconsiderable, although they did not attract the attention of the intellectual classes in proportion to their importance. From the 7th century A. D. down to the 12th century A.D. the Jaina scholars entered the intelluctual arena and produced works of stupendous merit and strength. But the cultivation of these disciplines was confined to the monks, some of whom gained royal patronage in South India and Gujarat. So far as the lay community were concerned they were fully occupied with the pursuit of trade and commerce and acquisition of wealth, a part of which was utilised in the building of Jaina temples of exquisite artistic perfection and the maintenance of the monastic order whose wants, however, were few and limited. It is a happy sigo of the resurgence of India's national spirit that the lay community now realises the necessity of cultivating the rich treasures of knowledge, that have been preserved by the labour of the Jaina monks. I trust that I shall not be misunderstood when I voice a word of warning and precaution in this momentous striving for the revival of the ancient creed of Mahavira. Mahavira was far and a way the greatest apostle of Ahinsa'. Fortunately the emphatic preaching of the doctrine of non-violence by Mahatma Gandhi and his employment of it as a weapon of the national fight for the recovery of political independence broke the placid contentment of the Jaina community, who were stirred to enthusiasm 16
| SR No. | 012088 |
| Book Title | Vaishali Abhinandan Granth |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Yogendra Mishra |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa |
| Publication Year | 1985 |
| Total Pages | 592 |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth |
| File Size | 17 MB |