Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 10

[ 31 militaristic Assyria was collapsing and Persia was echoing with the voice of Zoroaster exhorting the forces of Good to vanquish the armies of Evil, Rishabha or Adinatha, the first Tirthankara, was followed by other prophets of Non-violence like Neminatha ( believed to be a cousin of Sri Krishna) and they proclaimed peace as superior to war in the solution of human problems.
FIVE LEADING WAYS Parasvanatha taught the four leading ways to the crossing of the Ocean of Suffering:(1) Ahimsa or Non-violence; (2) Satya or Truth; (3) Asteya or Non-stealing; (4) Aparigraha or Non-possessiveness. A fifth, Brahmacharya or Chastity, was added by Mahavira.
Vardhamana Mahavira gave the finishing touches to the solid foundation of ethics which, if sincerely followed, will save society and individuals from moral disintegration and ultimate collapse. So it is important for us to recognise our indebtedness to the “path-finders" of Jainism, at a time when we are reviewing the ideals and achievements of Buddhism.
The old Vedic religion degenerated into dogma and ritual, sometimes involving animal sacrifice. Protesting against this, early Jainism and later