Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 50

48 WORKPLACE
Navkar Mantra set in precious stones by Mumbai diamond dealer to be presented to his temple.
HUSRUT
uri critetu
durgaon
Photo by James Maturin-Baird
sociala UEGA ENERGI
A DIAMOND IS FOREVER
JYOTI KOTHARI EXPLAINS HOW ETHICS ENABLED JAINS TO FLOURISH IN THIS PRECIOUS INDUSTRY FOR GENERATIONS
Many modern Jains face a quandary when attempting to combine their personal values with their career aspirations. Yet, the jewellery trade is, arguably, a business that has the power to corrupt its professionals due to the pressures that come with dealing with high-value items. An honest jeweller is a rarity, yet many Jains have found prosperity through the trade precisely because of their religious beliefs and strong reputations. As Jainism advises that achieving purity is determined through facing and overcoming life's temptations, I would argue that the core religious values fit well with the honour code of a jeweller. India has been a centre for the gem and jewellery trade since the very start of civilisation, as attested by the Vedas and the Jain Agamas. The most popular Agama, the Kalpasutra, describes heaps of
gemstones as the thirteenth of the fourteen grand dreams of Trishala, mother of Lord Mahavir. Here, gem identification was listed as one of the 72 main skills to be learned by men. Most of the gemstones in ancient times were found in the subcontinent, including the Himalayas, Kalinga, Burma, Ceylon and Afghanistan. During the years of British rule the wealth, riches, strength and influence of an empire were measured in terms of gold and jewellery. At this time, India was exporting many commodities but imported only gold and gemstones due to a high demand by the aristocratic population. All these factors helped the jewellery trade in India to grow and flourish. I believe that it was actually the influence of religion that helped many Jains to enter the jewellery trade. The gem and jewellery trade was treated as alparambhi (requiring minimum