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Jainism : A Religion with Height and Depth
Himalayas possess great height but there isn't any depth. Immence depth is in the Atlantic, but there exists no height. Jainism is a flourishing Religion with a mountain like height and ocean like depth.
The Jain propagation of Non-violence is such that could help the world, curbing ecological imbalance, a universal problem that is. The implementation of Anekantavada can help every individual solving misunderstandings and misconceptions. The practice of Aparigraha helps the human in his quest for absolute Happiness. The karmavad and panchkaaranvad guides the man lost in disgust.
A funny thing is that there exists a serious misconception among some so called scholars regarding the independent identity of the Jain Religion. Jainism hasn't arose as a reformist from the Hindu stock as described by a few misguided friends. It's distinction denies any possibilities of it being a denomination of Hinduism. (In Fact the word Hindu represents a culture or life style and not a religion. The religion is vedic) Ample evidence is given in the foreword.
Even in the various codified customary laws like : · The Hindu Marriage Act 1955 (Act no. 25 of 1955) · The Hindu Succession Act 1956 (Act no. 30 of 1956) · The Hindu Minority and Gaurdianship Act 1956 (Act no. 32 of 1956)
The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, it is very clear that the Jain religion is an independent religion.
In the aforesaid Acts it is clearly mentioned that the application of these Acts extends “to any person who is Buddhist, Jain or sikh by Religion.” This approves the distinction of Jainism from the said religions; or such clarification would stand unworthy.
Besides, let us see some Exerts from the PM speech-1949
On 3rd September 1949, whise attending a public meeting at Allhabad, the first Prime Minister of India, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru said as follows : "No doubt, India has a vast majority of Hindus, but they could not forget the fact that there were also minorities - Muslims, Parsis, Christans, Sikhs and Jains. If India was understood as a Hindu Rashtra it meant that the minorities were not cent percent citizens of this country” [The said speech was reported in the English daily newspaper “The statesman' dated 5/9/1949) * The Encyclopedia of world Religions by G. T. Bettany
mentioned the Jain Religion as independent of the other Religions. According to Dr. Raj Bali Pandey's book 'Hindu Dharam Kosh', Jainism is described as a distinct religions order existing in Indian polity since time of great antiquity.
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