________________
Jainism is a spiritual religion; it preaches equality. It is not individualistic. When a system has individuals involved only with selfinterest, and interests of society, nation, humanity, and the living world, are superceded by selfish motives, it is called individualistic. But a religion where all conduct, concepts, and behaviour are based on ahimsā can never be individualistic. Jainism has evolved not just on philosophical premise but also on the basis of conduct. Ahimsā is the cardinal precept of the process of individual purification leading to liberation and pursuit of establishing social and universal peace. That is the reason that inspired by the ambition of establishing equality and peace in society, Jainism has laid special emphasis on the doctrine of non-possession in social behaviour. The doctrine of non-possession is the path to detachment. The more detached one is to his wealth and possessions the more he will use it for social welfare.
Thus we can summarize that Jainism has given us four golden rules for happy life - ahimsā in conduct, anekānta in thought, syādvāda in speech, and non-possession in behaviour. These golden rules can help establish social and universal peace and these same rules can help the purification of soul leading to liberation.
NAMOKĀRA MANTRA : THE SYMBOL OF WORSHIP OF VIRTUES
Ņamokāra Mantra is the basic mantra in Jainism. No one made this mantra, it is a legacy of the remote unknown past. That is why it is called eternal mantra. All the mantras in this world have evolved out of this one. The whole corpus of mantra-canon has developed from this mantra. All the mantra-deities reside in this mantra. The importance of this mantra has been lauded to the extent of stating that this is the essence of all knowledge contained in the fourteen Pūrvas (the extinct corpus of subtle canon of Jains). This is the first of all vidyās (arts or magical powers); and this is the source of all basic mantra-sounds.
The mahā-mantra goes like this :
Ņamo Arihantānam
Ņamo Siddhāņam souls.
I bow before the Arihantas or the Jinas. I bow before the Siddhas or the Perfected
60
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
