Ahimsa the Science of Peace

Author(s): Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 48

ence of scholars of Indus Valley Civilization. They point out that the style of Indus Valley figurines is very inuch akin to the later Jain statues. Bull, the symbol associated with Rishabhadeva, is quite common in the Mohan-jo-daro artifacts; independently as well as in association with the yogi figurines and tablets.
The experts on Indus Valley Civilization also believe that- Ahimsa appears to have been a way of life with the pre-Aryan culture in India. It was in such high state of development that these people carried on their social, political and religious affairs without the need of involvement into war. The meager quantity and primitive configuration of destructive implements at Mohan-jo-daro and Harappa, in spite of the evidence of highly developed technology, is ample proof that the people of Indus valley had no need or inclination to wage war with anyone.
Whatever be the antiquity of the Jain school of thought, with the advent of Mahavir it was revitalized and brought to prominence once again. The acute vision, open mindedness, sense of analysis, love for details and dauntless discipline are some of the important social contributions of Mahavir. His greatest contributions are the original but candid concepts of relativity of truth and the metaphysics and philosophy of Ahimsa.
Whereas science has only recently stumbled upon the concept that all living things are related and that they trace their descent back to the same origin, Mahavir, who devoted himself to deep study of origin and spread of violence, conceived the idea of equality of all life forms more than two thousand five hundred years ago. He conveyed that all beings are fond of life, like pleasure, hate pain, shun destruc
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