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JAIN JOURNAL
Vol. XXXIX
No. 1 July
2004
APROPOS OF HIMSĀ VS AHIMSA
AND THE JAINA WARRIORS
Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah 1. 01. A clearcut dichotomy of vyāvahārika olim laukikadharma, the practical or feasible virtue, vs pāramārthika dharma, the spiritual truth, has posed a valid challenge to Jaina theory of ahimsā, non-violence. Jaina philosophers and litterateures could comprehend this duality long ago. While drafting the code of conduct and moral ethics, ancient pontiffs and preceptros or the Jaina lawgivers, had the wordly wisdom. The way in which the early ascetic scholars handled the perplexing enigma of ahimsā versus hiṁsā and reconciled the teachings of religion with the way of day to day life, without repudiating the kernel of ahimsā, requires an inextenso discussion.
2.02.1. The metaphysical question of himsā versus ahimsā is the pivot round which the whole gamut of Jaina philosophy is fashioned. The ahimsā has been the hall mark down the centuries, its scope has been, not exactly redefined, but in the socio-political milieu, debated at length.
1.02.1. Semantic range of the word himsā, violence, is wider enough as to include nearly 30 Prakrit synonyms. Albeit, it ultimately boils down to any act of carelessness, actuated by passion, leading to destruction of life forces or law of love.
1.02.2. In spite of all the delicacies involved in the debates of himsā, abstinence from all forms of himsā, becomes absolute. Amstacandra and Amitagati ācāryas forbid killing per say, even destructive animals.
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