Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: B J Institute

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THE IDEA OF AHMSA ....
"There is nothing more beloved to the living beings in the world than their own vital breaths. Therefore, man should be compassionate to others as to one's own self." ...
And also: ahimsa satya-vacanam sarva-bhūta-hitam param/ ahimsa paramo dharmaḥ sa ca satye pratisthitaḥ // (MBH 3.200.4) "ahimsa and truth (speaking the truth) are the supreme welfare of all living beings. Ahimsa is the supreme law, and that law is established in the truth."
(b) Conspectus : (An Over-all Survey) Vedic literature
Brahmins: Ritual Brahmanas, etc. Ritualism (householders, ahimsa-theory ca. 1500 BC onward
brahmacarins) Upanişads, etc. Meta. Ascetics: ahimsaca. 900 BC onward. ritualism (samnyasins, doctrine
vanaprasthas) Satra literature more
Entire
ahimsa(dharmasatras, etc.) upanişadic brahmin-class doctrine ca. 600 BC onward. Smrtis and MBH more
Entire
a himsa (MS, etc.)
upanișadic society doctrine ca. 200 BC onward.
e
Note : The Conspectus presents a plain picture of the situations prevailing in successive phases within the fold of Brahmanism. It is difficult to illustrate here various complex structures of the brahmanical literature and society connected with the ahimsa concept. The time limitations (for events, etc.) indicated in literary phases are fluctuating. That means, events intervening the phases overlap and coincide to some extent with those of the preceding and/ or the succeeding phases, e.g. ritualism or the ritual ahimsa-theory may recur to some extent in later phases, and the upanişa dic thinking may go back to some extent to its earlier phase, the brahmanical literature. (c) Indus Valley Culture :
Some relevant matters like animal-offerings at the Durga-puja festivals in India deserve all our attention in the context of the Indus Civilisation and the ahimsa in general. Origin of the