Indian Culture and Jainism

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Vidya Samsthan

Page 12

law and order. He did not confine himself to individual upliftment, but he dedicated himself to the development of a new creative social order for the healthiest orientation of the individual. Though he was a man of contemplative values, yet social values got his fullest attention. Those who regard Mahāvīra only as an apostle of spiritual message do great injustice to him. In fact, he serves as an illustration both of spiritual realisation and social reconstruction.
Mahāvīra attained Nirvāņa at Pāvā in Bihāra at the age of 72 on Tuesday the 15th October 527 B.C. This day is being celebrated as the Dīpāvalī festival (festival of lamps) throughout India. Besides, Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa day marks the beginning of Vīra Nirvāņa Samvat. This Samvat is the oldest Samvat followed in India.
Unprecedented contributions of Jainism to Indian Culture: I take this opportunity to enumerate and discuss in brief the unprecedented contributions which have been made by Jainism to Indian culture, by virtue of which this culture has been enriched and adorned.
1. Classification of empirical selves as the basis of socio-spiritual principle of Ahimsa and the dissemination of the doctrine of Aparigraha.
2. Inclusion of the notion of Paryaya (modification or change) in the definition of Substance and its spiritual implication.
3. Theory of Metaphysico-axiological Anekānta along with the doctrine of Naya (view-point).
4. Device of Syādvāda as the key to the pointed communicability of knowledge.
5. Doctrine of Karma as an explanation of the cognitive, conative and affective differences existing in the world at large.
6. Mystical journey of the self from darkness to light, from slumberness to perfect spiritual awakening.
7. Composite Sadhana of Tri-ratna (Samyagdarśana, Samyagjñāna and Samyakcāritra) leading to emancipation. (Mokṣa).
8. According religious freedom to women and down-trodden people. 9. Propounding the philosophy of vegetarianism and the philosophy of fighting defensive wars.
Indian Culture and Jainism
5