Bhagavana Mahavira

Author(s): Chauthmal Maharaj
Publisher: Jainoday Pustak Prakashan Samiti Ratlam

Page 10

[ 5 ] काले शत्त्या प्रदानं युवतिजन कथामूक भावः परेषां ॥ तृष्णा स्रोतो विभंगो गुरुषु च विनयः सर्व भूतानुकम्पा ।
सामान्यः सर्व शास्त्रेष्वनुपहत विधिः श्रेय सामेप पंथा। Lord Krishna enunciated the reform of flesh eating 5000 years back. He never took flesh in all his life. He always took sugar and butter and wholesome food and preached it to all. In the lakhs of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in India only such food is offered to God and all other forbidden food is tabooed. Even then if the Hindus are asked how many of them are vegetarians the answer will be that except a few Vaishyas and high casts Gaur, Nagar and Sanadhya Brahmins all aro addicted to flesh-eating. Is it not deplorable ? But what is to be done when the essence of religion is inexplorable ? What power had Mahavir, what charm was there in his teachings and what secret was there in Jainism that those who heard him, rallied under his flag became thorough vegetarians, born enemies of Hinsa? There must be some wonderful thing, some secret charm of religious spirit that acts in this enchanting way. The greatest religious teachers of the world, tho nabis and prophets tired themselves in preaching against flesh eating and forbidding its use but their followers were not influenced in the least. When compared with this we can realize the greatness of Lord Mahavir and his teachings. If it is said that the followers of the gospel of Mahavir are only a few, only 13 lakhs and those of Buddhism and other religious number crores the answer is that the number of followers is not a criterion of the greatness of religious precepte. The majority of the mankind of the world is illiterate, uneducated, uncivilized and ignorant. The standard of civilization, culture, arts and