Economics of Mahaveera

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Adarsh Sahitya Sangh

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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
person cannot give up all but he should control desires and consider purity of means in earning his income and wealth.
Constituents of Economics Economics deals mainly with three elements:
Production Distribution Consumption
In Mahavira s times, the main source of production was agriculture. In those times, there were no industries. Agriculture was the main occupation. In that context, the guidelines that he prescribed for a societal person were such that even in agriculture one must think about the purity of means.
Principles of Purity of Means Mahavira gave five principles for purity of means in relation to production:
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Do not put anybody in bondage. Do not kill. Do not mutilate. Do not over-load. Do not ignore or belittle devotion.
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He prescribed the following principles for the devout society developed by him:
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If engaged in the occupation of agriculture, do not use fetters, bonds. Do not keep either animals or men under subjugation. Do not kill. Do not beat anybody. Do not strike at anybody. Do not harass any people. Do not mutilate.
During those times, mutilation of parts of body or organs was prevalent. That was the age of slavery. Punishment in the form