Jain Journal 1973 10

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

Page 51

OCTOBER, 1973
days Hemacandra (1089-1173 A.D.) who was very influential in the dissemination of Jainism in the districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, wrote the Yogaśāstrall, the Vitarāgastuti12, etc, The Jainas left some logical works13, such as Siddhasena Divakara's (c. 700A.D.) Nyāyāvatāral4, etc.
Jainism is very important when we consider the significance of religions in the development of capitalism in India. A very strange phenomenon may be noted in Indian economy ; that is, that it has been completely dominated for a long time by Jainas, who still today occupy a predominant position in business. This position derives from the creed of Jainism, which absolutely forbids killing any living being. Therefore, those professions that may provoke the death or suffering of any kind of living being, even an insect, are forbidden to its adherents. On the otherhand, liberty of movement is strongly limited, because by traveling
nay crush insects, causing death. Consequently, Jainas have had a tendency to become only sedentary merchants and money-lenders. Then their rigid respect for morality and their honesty have given them a good reputation among Indians--at least in not so recent times, for it seems that today the decadence of their customs has rendered them less admirable. Thus, they have succeeded in acquiring a dominant position in commerce, to such a point that, in the last century, 50 per cent of the capital of the people was in their hands. And yet, this concentration of business in the hands of a restricted group of persons has not given rise to the formation of capitalism. Disdain for earthly goods forbids Jainas from seeking property. Besides, they have never represented a political force, so that they have never assumed the function of a rich bourgeois city class. Jainism, as well as Brahmanism, has failed in developing capitalism in India, in spite of its prevalence among merchants 15
According to Jainism, the origin of government was explained by the violence of a strong man who imposed himself on the weak. In the case of India, it was explained by the prevalence of the Aryans over the non-Aryans. This theory, however, joins with the Buddhist theory in denying divine right to the king. 16
Extract from A Critical Survey of Indian Religions and Philosophy by Nakamura Hajime, pp. 42-43.
12 13 14 15 16
Jushin Suzuki : op. cit. Cf. Atsushi Uno, in The Proceedings of the Okurayama Institute, No. 1, pp. 55ff. Enumerated by H. Nakamura in Miyamoto : Konpon Shinri, p. 349ff'. Y. Kanakura : Indo Seishin Bunka no Kenkyu, pp. 324ff. H. Nakamura : Shuk yo to etc., pp. 1-41. Ibid.