Jain Journal 2004 07

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

Page 14

UAMPA NAGARAJATAHAPROPOSOFHIMSAVSAHIMSA
"Jainism redefined the nature of martial valour and violence so that the true warrior was seen as being the fully committed Jain ascetic. The early Digambara (or possibly Yāpanīya) writer Sivārya compares the young warrior fighting in battle to the spiritually victorious monk and the gaining of deliverance is equated with the attainment of kingship [Bhagavati Arādhanā 19-23, 199 and 1849-50]. Jainism's ideology, particularly marked among the Digambaras who were the dominant sect in the south, of heroic individualism and self-perfection, frequently expressed in images of striving, battle and conquest, which could thus lead to it being seen as a religion of vigour and bravery, is no doubt one of the reasons why it was held in such respect by a large sector of south Indian warrior society”[Paul Dundas 119].
2.03. We have solid instances of devout Jaina emperors, kings, ministers, generals, queens and the hierarchy of soldiers who had engaged themselves in sanguinary wars. Srīvijaya, Būtuga, Mārasimha, Cāmundarāya, Sankaraganda, Punnamayya, Nāgadeva, Gangarāja, Mariyāne, Nimbarāja, Irugappa are some of the brave generals in the galaxy of those who fought many successful wars, and by faith were Jainas. Similarly women warriors like Sāviyabbe (975), Dānacintāmaņi Attimabbe (950-1017), Rāņi Cennabhairādevi (1553-1607), Queen Abbakka the Senior and Abbakka the Junior (17th century), who both defeated the Portuguese Armada, were second to none on the battle field. Thus Jains do profess that there is no himsā which was purely pleasent and agreeable consequences. But, waging a righteous or duty bound war, a necessary evil, has sought its legitimate justification. Jaina fiars do not brand those valiant fighters as mithyādrstis, heretics, because of blood they shed during wars, considering the fact that those fighting men have discharged their professional duties with dignity. The warriors have met the inevitable death with a smile on their face, but with a strong and steady determination to stick to the rigid rules of their religion. Here, the Jainas may appear to have shared the pan-Indian belief, but not so.
2.03.1 "Contrary to the widely held belief that death on the battle-field is almost equal to holy martyrdom, the Jaina answer as put in the mouth of Mahāvīra shows extraordinary courage of their