Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

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

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THE IDEA OF AHIMSA ....
This magico-ritualistic background of vedic ritualism vis-a-vis religion remained intact in the reform religions, viz. Jainism and Buddhism. The Jaina and the Buddhist monks and nuns should not prepare themselves food and drink or meat and fish. But they can accept it, if it is not uddesiya or uddissa-kataprepares specially for them (cf. Ruegg. pp. 234-235; Wezler-1. pp. 100 fol.). The pabupata mendicants in Saivism also observe such a practice of accepting in alms the food or meat which is "para-krta" - prepared by others.
4. cf. Minoru Hara: "A Note on the Pasu pata Concept of Ahimsa" in: Rtam - Shri Gopal chandra Sinha Comm. Vol. (vols. 16-18), Lucknow 1986, pp. 145-154; especially pp. 148-153.