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

Page 70

Bhagwan Mahāvira's Ahiṁsā and World Peace
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of subjugating inner passions and carnal cravings is not an easy affair. Poet Tagore's remarks made in his lectures in America are very significant. "In this natural world, with the help of science, man is turning the forces of nature into obedience. But in his moral world he has a harder task to accomplish. He has to turn his own passions and desires from tyranny into obedience.” Such a nonviolent saint enjoys the beauties and sublimities of the inner world. He sports in the Self-delights in the Self; for he has to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven hidden within.
Those souls who are mentally weak lead the life of householders and discharge their duties with a compassionate outlook. Jainism has not taken an extreme and one-sided view to Ahiṁsā for a layman. It has classified it into various stages according to the mental make up of the adherent. Even the use of weapons has not always been wholly condemned or discarded on the occasion of safeguarding and maintaining the dignity of Law and Justice, against the aggressive and vindictive measures of the culprits in the absence of some other better way and making it impossible for the miscreants to disturb the smooth and peaceful working of the society. As a matter of fact, the avoidance of voluntary or intentional injury has been enjoined upon all the votaries of non-violence. It is, therefore, consistent with the doctrine of non-violence to rule over vast territories. It is a historical fact that Tain monarchs such as Bimbasār, Chandragupta Maurya, Samprati, Khārvela, Amoghversha Kumārpāla etc. ruled over the country with remarkable success.
The celebrated Jain monk Swami Samanta Bhadra writes, 'Lord Shānti Nāth (the 16th Jain prophet) when a house-holder, had conquered over the multitude of monarchs of the whole world.' Chamundaraya, the renowned minister of Ganga, the king of the South and a great Jain devotee, had waged several wars himself. It is interesting to note that he had composed a book on Jain Ethics while on the battlefield.
Dr. G.H, Ojha observes, "Valour is not the monopoly of any particular community. India has produced chivalrous persons in every community. Rajputānā has always been the land of the brave. The jains have never lagged behind in this respect, in spite of the prominent place allotted to compassion in Jainism. Since many centuries the Jains have been occupying the exalted offices of the