Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Essence of Jainism
The Prakrit word 'Samaiya' is related to Samya, Samatā or Sama. All thoughts and modes of conduct that are based on an outlook of equality and wbich pourish that outlook, find place in the Jain tradition as Sāmāiya-Samnäyika.
Just as 'Sandhya' is a necessary religious act in the Brābmana tradition, six acts are considered to be necessary both for the householder and the recluse. In this the dominant one is Samaiya. When the householder or recluse accepts, religious life as per his qualification, he takes the vow " Karemi Bhanta ! Samãi yam"-"O lord ! I adopt equality and spirit of equality". Further clarification of this equality is given in the sentence that follows. The clarifi. cation is- “ I renounce Savadya yoga-meaning all sinful dealings, according to my capacity.” In the seventh century, the famous scholar Jinabhadragani Kşamāśramana wrote his famous Visesavaśyakabhāsya' on this because of the great importance of 'Sāmaiya.' He lays down that faith, knowledge and conduct that are subsidiary to dharma are Samaiya.
Jainism, Gitā and Gandhiji with regard to real heroism
Right from old days, the perspective of equality was wellgrounded in other traditions like Samkhya, Yoga and Bhāgavata. Lord Krishna wrote the Gitā with the help of their thought-content. That is the reason why the Gitā supports the perspective of equality by the frequent use of the words like samadysti, Samatā, Samya etc. The spirit of equality is basically the same. The two yet differ, one from the other, because other thoughts in view of difference in traditions are mixed with it. Even when Arjuna was overcome with a forceful spirit of equality, the Gitā stops him from resorting to the life of a recluse. The Acaranga sūtra, on the other hand, would not issue such an order to him but would ooly state that “if you are a real Ksatriya hero, you cannot fight a violent battle after acquiring the perspective of equality; you can only accept the life of a recluse, fight the spiritual enemies and prove your Kşatriya spirit (1.5,3).". The story of Bharata-Bahubali enlightening this statement is famous in Jain literature. We are here told that after suffering fierce attacks from his blood-brother