Ethnicity and Religious Heritage

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: T U Mehta

Page 74

Anekantvad and Its Importance in Life Part-1/
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mundane existence.
Its importance is aptly stated by Sadhsen Divakarji as under :
__ जेन विना लोगस्स वव्वहारो सव्वहा न निवदाई। तरस भुजने क्वगुरुनो नमो अनेगान्त वयस्सा ॥ Meaning : I bow doen to Anekantvad, the great preceptor, without which it is not possible to conduct these worldly affairs.
Gandhi's political success was mainly due to his belief in Anekant.
Gandhiji's success in winning political freedom for India was largely due to his method of dealing with social and political problems by working out the theory of Anekant because his method of Satyagraha always required one to look to and to appreciate the view point of the opponent. Though the theory of Anekant has been evolved in depth by Jain philosophers, it has been always presumed to be applicable to individuals who aspire for spiritual upliftment.
However, Gandhi was the first thinker who