Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 034278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 137
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

Page 33

Jainism: The Cosmic Vision wanted this type of thing to happen as a part of his proposed marriage ceremony. He, therefore, set the bonded animals free first and then went back. He then sacrificed the pleasures of married life and material life permanently and went to Girnar for penance.
This event, from the life of the 23rd Tirthankara, teaches us never to do any physical harm to any living being. That is why the first among the 18 sinful acts indicated in the Jain religion is the vow of Pranatipat. Killing of any living being or taking away anyone's life is called Pranatipat. Similarly, the act of compassion, the Karuna Bhav is also given highest importance by the Jain religion as a means of salvation from the circle of life and death. That is why the Jain religion preaches compassion to every living being-big or small. The episode of the meeting between the Jain monk Hirvijaysuriji and Emperor Akbar in AD 1583 is a testimony to the compassion preached by the Jain religion towards every living being.
On seeing Hirvijaysuriji approaching, Emperor Akbar descended from the throne and went to him and bowed to him. His three princes also bowed and paid their respects. In honour of Suriji's arrival, very costly carpets were spread in the royal palace, but Suriji refused to walk on them. Akbar was surprised. Hirvijaysuriji explained that Jain saints were forbidden to walk on land covered with cloth because that might kill the ants and other insects moving under the cloth. Akbar ordered the carpets to be removed and indeed there were many ants and insects underneath.
Compassion Towards Animals of so many miles on foot from Gandhar Port (Gujarat) to Fatehpur, he was greatly surprised.
Emperor Akbar, by way of deference to Suriji, requested him to accept gift of some gold and silver. Thereupon Suriji said that he would not accept anything. Suriji added that if he was keen to offer anything, he should order to set free the birds and animals kept by him in the cages. Suriji also added that he should prohibit large-scale fishing in the huge pond named Dabad and should also issue a mandate to stop violence of any kind by anybody during the Jain festivals of Paryushan. Akbar issued orders as was desired by Suriji. Moreover, Akbar added 4 days on his own accord to the 8 days of Paryushan festival and ordered to stop the killing of animals for a total of 12 days. The mandate was also conveyed throughtout his empire including Gujarat, Malwa, Ajmer, Delhi, Fatehpur, Lahore and all the way to Multan. The Emperor also issued a mandate not to indulge in any sort of animal-killing in the vicinity of pilgrim places like Girnar, Taranga, Shatrunjaya, Kesariyaji, Abu, Rajgruhi and Sametshikharji.
Compassion in the Jain religion means one should feel the same agony in your heart when you experience that some one else is suffering. It advocates empathy. One should have the same affectionate feelings for the soul of others, as one would have for ones own soul. Similarly one should crave the same thing for the soul of others as one would crave for ones own soul. Thus the Jain religion tries to achieve the feeling of oneness with the smallest of living organisms. The life and soul of every other living being is as much valuable as the life and soul of oneself. Hence we should have intense feeling of
As Akbar came to know that Suriji had made the journey