Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

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Philosophy of Samatā (Equality) in Modern Outlook
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It is said that time is powerful. It is, of course, true that time is powerful that it takes away people with it in its flow. But these are the great personalities who are never overcome by the time but instead they overcome this time and lead the masses to right direction. From these very invaluable thoughts of these great personalities Samatā-Darsana finds its origin. This bears, on one hand, the impression of their thoughts and the impression of the flow of time on the other. So, when we concentrate on the SamatāDarśana and wish to show its relevance in contemporary age, then we must dive deep into the thoughts of these personalities.
History witnesses that the Samatā-Darsana for the first time found its expression in the speeches of Lord Pārsvanātha and Lord *Mahāvīra. When the human society was victimised by the violence then Lord Mahāvira rose to the occasion. He propounded and propagated the philosophy of Samatā and rescued the world.
Despite the great changes in the society, the stream of thought propagated by Lord Mahāvira still flows and is a constant source of inspiration for us all.
Mahāvīra explained both the aspects of Samatā i.e. philosophy and its implementation. He not only aired the principles but also implemented them in his own life. Mahāvira firstly recognised the central point of Sau atā. He proclaimed that all the selves are equal. That is to say, every self has got equal power to progress to the extreme. There is, of course, a problem concerning its origination and development. But there is no reason of being disappointed Hence, he elucidated the point Atmā so Paramātma'i.e. individual is not different from the Supreme self. That is to say, God is not a different power who has remained a God from its beginning. But the fact is that the very self, living in the world, reaches the heights by its efforts. The self becomes the supreme self ultimately. That supreme self is then omnipotent and omniscient but he, in that condition, does not have any relation with the world.
The revolutionary thought that God is not the creator of the world was voiced by Lord Mahāvira. He also decried the traditional belief that nothing moves without the desire of God. He laid
the foundation of the Samatā philosophy by showing that the origin