________________
1
AHIMSA CULTURE
AND HUMAN EVOLUTION
Ahimsa is an ancient Sanskrit word. It is formed by the prefix a to the word himsa which means killing'. The prefix a- stands for negation. So, Ahimsa is non-killing. Non-injury is really the secondary meaning of Ahimsa current today. It is one of those Sanskrit words, like Yajña and Tapa which have developed very rich connotations. They reflect to that extent, the progress of thought and action of the people using them.
R. R. DIWAKAR
The word 'himisa' means killing, and causing any kind of injury to life. It is true that today, among the current religions, the religion founded by the Jina and called Jainism in India, is identified with Ahimsa, as it declares that Ahimsa is the highest religion- Ahimsa paramo dharmaḥ. Jainas had twentyfour Tirthankaras or Prophets. Vardhamana Mahavir, the latest, was born in 599 B.C. and was contemporary of Bhagavan Buddha. The ancient Sramana cult too is said to have practised Ahimsa as a basic tenet.
Here, however, I am not dealing with Ahimsa as a religious injuntion but as a universal social principle and social virtue and its projection in the culture of human beings and communities. Of course, religious and spiritual approaches to life have played their own significant part in developing the theory and practice of Ahimsa. But since all religions do not give equal importance to Ahimsa, and since Ahimsa in its evolved connotation means vastly more than mere non-killing of life, and physical non-injury, it seems necessary to look upon Ahimsa as a universal social principle and almost a compulsive guide for human survival and evolution, both individual and social. With the advent and progress of a race in nuclear weaponary, with the possibility of nations using biological and chemial missiles in wars and in mutual conflicts, the importance and value of Ahimsă in its full and developed connotation of today has increased
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
