Jain Journal 2001 07

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

Page 40

TIWARY RELEVANCE OF JAIN PRINCIPLES OF MAHAVIRA IN MODERN CONTEXT 35
last one consisted of devout laywomen or śravikās, who were three hundred and fiftyeight thousand in number. In this way, the women for the first time were considered equal to their male counterparts in the prevailing society and religion. Mahāvīra's philosophical teachings include Syädvāda, Anekānta, Asrava, Ajiva, Bandha, Samvara, Nirjarā and Mokṣa and all these are related somehow or other with morality, patience, satisfaction, equality, purity, brotherhood and socialism.
The teachings of Mahavira had a direct and blissful effects on the Indian social structure and it helped in its upliftment. He did his utmost for the welfare and salvation of the entire humanity, without any distinction of sex, class, caste, colour and nationality. If we examine and define his ideas and teachings, particularly his five vows, we very much feel that the rational and logical teachings of Mahāvīra are still relevant in the present circumstances in so many respects. His teachings showed the path of economic equality through nonpossession and tried to eradicate corruption through the law of celibacy. According to him, the human beings should try to elivate themselves by keeping restraints on their senses. Man is his own biggest friend and biggest enemy. Those, who do not keep their sensual desires in control, are bound to suffer. He brought a socio-religious revolution, in which welfare of mankind and respect for each other's rights were his main goal. With such objectives, he exorted people to eschew slavery. During his wanderings, he propagated a religion in which there would be no exploitation and feeling of high and low and in which every individual would get sufficient opportunities for progress. In that background, when we analyse the contents of the pañcavrata and moral principles propagated by Mahavira, we find that these were not concerned merely with the Jain religion as well as culture of a particular period and place, but were more related to the social, national and human feelings and needs of every time to come. While there are moral and spiritual sentiments and emotions in the background of the teachings of Mahavira, the same may be helpful in bringing peace, unity and brotherhood in our present world. The simple life style and the generous attitude promoted by him is a sole step to meet the challenges of the contemporary world of consumerism and hoarding mentality. In the present global environment, violence, corruption, adultery and bitterness are growing very rapidly. The materialistic attitude is destroying not only the religious and spiritual sentiments, but even the humanity and our whole culture as well. Every part of the world is suffering from the bad effects of massacres, exploitations and selfishness on the name of peace, friendship and social justice, while morality has gone to its lowest ebb. We are not able to be acquainted with our neighbouring surroundings, resulting that our