Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 79

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INTRODUCING JAINISM
Later on, Amitagati, (993 A.D.) and Amstacandra (11th cent. A.D.) in their respective treatises Śrāvakācāra (VI. 33-44) and Puruşārtha-siddhyupāya (verses 79-89) advocated absolute ahimsā (non-violence).
There are various facets of himsā. This is described by Devagupta (1016 A.D.) in his Nava-pada-prakarana (verse 22). He says that himsā may be ārambhaja or anārambhaja. Arambhaja-himsā is inherent in the occupation, whereas anārambhaja is not related to the occupation. There is another called sankalpajawhich is intentional. Crimes done: by himsā may be either sārthaka or nirarthaka. Sārthaka offences are done consciously, while nirarthaka fortuitously. Sārthaka himsā may be committed with care and attention (sāpekṣa), while, if it is committed carelessly, it is nirapeksa.
Though Manu has depicted the excellence of ahimsā, he has said that the killing of animals in a sacrifice is not an offence (tasmad yajñe vadho' vadhaḥ). Hemacandra (10881172 A.D.) protests against the statement of Manu in his Yogasästra, (II. 33-49). He says that it is a distortion of reality to think that the animals have come to this world to be offered to gods for the prosperity and betterment of the world. It is not true to say that the jīvas living in this world will be reborn as divine beings. Hemacandra calls these people hypocrits who preach the religion of cruelty. Hemacandra goes on further to say that if the animals are sacrificed for an abode in heaven, then why should one not kill one's parents in the sacrifice for getting an abode in heaven ? His argument rests on the famous verse he quotes from the Dasa-vaikālika-sūtra:
savve jīvā vi icchanti jivium na marijjium/ tamhā pāṇivaham ghoras nigganthā vajjayanti ņam//
(I. VI. 10) Hemacandra then concludes by comparing ahimsā with the beneficient mother :
māteva sarva-bhūtānām ahimsā hitakāriņi/ ahimsāiva hi samsāram arāvamsta-sāranıħ// (2.50] ahimsā duḥkha-dāvāgni-prāvssenya-ghanāvali/ bhava-bhrami-rugārtānām ahimsā paramāuşadhi//
(2.51).