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to have significant influence on the society, without exercising any undue force other than moral force. History shows us several such examples. Today, India is the only country with a sizable population of Vegetarians. This can be traced to the Jain influence on Brahamanic (Vedic) tradition prior to the reign of Maurya King Ashoka. The Brahamans did not change their religion but stopped Yagna (animal sacrifice) and started following vegetarianism. Another example is that of Mahatama Gandhi, who was deeply influenced by Jainism, but preached non-violence as Vaishnavaite-a vedic religious sect (His famous song Vaishnava jan to tene kahiye - says it all). Finally, India, a nation of majority Hindu population has an Islamic President who is a Vegetarian.
The following article by Prof. Cromwell Crawford should be read after taking the above context into account.
1 Heritage in Wesi
Extending Jain Heri
Western Environne
132 Jain Education International 2010_03
national 2018_03
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