Tirthankar Mahavir

SR No.: 020834
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 235
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 57 MB

Page 225

Bhagwan Mahavira rejuvenated the Jain religion and re-established its supremacy. His preaching led people back to Jainism, causing a wave of nonviolence and renunciation. A number of kings, men and women renounced the world and adopted the way of life of an ascetic. Not only Jain religion got rid of meat-eating but even Vedic religion too accepted the creed of nonviolence and a majority of Hindu population turned to vegetarianism.
- Kishorlal Mashruwala
Je
In my view the eternal value of Mahavira is that he attained the highest level of spirituality. He was reborn spiritually through his inner vision. Celibacy, truth, non-violence, self confidence and compassion for all were incarnated in him. He wedded those values to eternal religion of the world.
– Dr. Vasudevsharan Agrawal
R
Gujarat is heavily indebted to Jain religion. Jains have preserved the past of Gujarat. When Gujarati literature was in disarray, Jain munis kept the flame burning by preventing it from getting extinguished. The entire society, not only Gujarat, owes a great deal of debt to Jains. Buddhism and Jainism were the only two religions which propagated non-violence, loud and clear. Jain religion is the only religion today which is synonymous with compassion. Western poets like Tennyson had a vision : A time will come when swords will be hammered into ploughshares. The preachings of Jain munis may not have hammered swords into ploughshares, but certainly into measuring rods.
You may legitimately be proud but there rests great responsibility on you. You have to do a lot. You have not propagated Bhagwan Mahavira's message in the entire coutry, it has not reached every nook and corner. Barring certain parts of India, the world at large is violent and nonvegetarian. Your triumphal march will remain incomplete, till you make the whole world non-violent.
- Kavi Nanalal