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JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLV, NO. I-IV JULY.-JUNE 10-11
not allowed to pluck even a leaf or a flower from a tree. Not only this, while walking they always remain conscious that no insect or greenery is trampled under their feet. They use very soft brushes to avoid the violence of smallest living beings. In short, Jaina monks and nuns are over conscious about the pollution of air, water, etc.
So far as Jaina house-holders are concerned they take such vows as to use a limited and little quantity of water and vegetables for their daily use. For a Jaina, water is more precious than ghee or butter. To cut forest or to dry the tanks or ponds are considered very serious offence for an house holder. As per rule Jaina house-holders are not permitted to run such type of large scale industries which pollute air and water and lead to the violence of plant-life and animal-kingdom. The industries which produce smoke in large quantity are also prohibited by Jainācāryas. The types of these industries are termed as ‘mahārambha' or greatest sin and larger violence. It is considered as one of the causes for hellish life. Thus Jainas take into consideration not only the violence of small creatures but even earth, water, air, etc. also. The fifteen types of industries and bussiness, prohibited for the house holder are mainly concerned with, ecological disbalance, pollution of environment and violence of living beings. Jainācāryas permitted agriculture for house-holders, but the use of pesticides in the agriculture is not agreeable to them, because it not only kills the insects but pollutes the atomosphere as well as our food items also. To use pesticides in agriculture is against their theory of nonviolence. Thus we can conclude that Jainas were well aware of the problem of ecological disbalance and they made certain restrictions to avoid the same and to maintain ecological equilibrium, for it is based on their supreme principle of non-violence.
