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Reverence for all Life: Animals in the Jain Tradition
Christopher Key Chapple
Animals have always been revered in Jainism and the scriptures demonstrate a deep compassion for them. Jain concern for animals goes far beyond vegetarianism. For centuries, Jains have protected and cared for animals. Animal symbols and stories pervade the Jain tradition. When searching for words to describe Mahavir as he prepared for his state of liberation, early Jain authors turned to animal metaphors:
His senses were well protected like those of a tortoise; he was single and alone like the horn of a rhinoceros; he was free like a bird; he was always waking like the fabulous bird Bharunda; valorous like an elephant, strong like a bull, difficult to attack like a lion (Kalpa Sutra, Jacobi, p. 261).
In fact, most of the great Jain teachers or Tirthankaras can be recognized on the basis of their animal associate. For instance, the first great teacher, Rishabha, is generally represented with a bull; the second, Ajita, with an elephant; the third, Sambhava, with a horse, and so forth.
The prominence of animal imagery in the story tradition corresponds to a special care not to harm animals inspired by the Jain ethic of nonviolence or ahimsa. From the earliest texts of Jainism, we find animal treatment discussed in great detail:
Some slay animals for sacrificial purposes, some slay animals for the sake of their skin, Some kill them for the sake of their flesh, some kill them for the sake of their blood; others for the sake of their heart, their bile, the feathers of their tail, their tail, their big or small horns, their teeth, their tusks, their nails, their sinews, their bones; with a purpose and without a purpose. Some kill animals because they have been wounded by them, or are wounded, or will be wounded.
He who injures these animals does not comprehend and renounce the sinful acts; he who does not injure these, comprehends and renounces the sinful acts. Knowing them, a wise man should not act sinfully towards animals, nor cause others to act so, nor allow others to act so (Acaranga Sutra I:1.6).
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