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जैन विद्या एवं प्राकृत : अन्तरशास्त्रीय अध्ययन
characteristic contribution of Jaina Acharyas. The doctrine of Anekantavada propounded by them broadens the outlook of the persons and removes the feelings of hatred towards the other religionists. This principle was applied not only to religious but also to intellectual, social and other fields of activities.
Human beings have limited knowledge and inadequate expression. That is why different doctrines are inadequate; at the most they are onesided views of the Truth which cannot be duly enclosed in words and concepts. Jainism has always held that it is wrong, if not dangerous, to presume that one's own creed alone represents the truth. Toleration is therefore, the characteristic of Jaina ideology. Even the Jaina monarchs and generals have a clean and commendable record to their credit in this regard. The political history of India knows no cases of persecution by Jaina Kings, even when Jaina monks and laymen have suffered at the hands of others religionists of fanatical temper. Dr. B. A. Saletore has rightly olvserved in this regard that "The principle of Ahimsa was partly responsible for the greatest contribution of the Jainas to Hindu culture that relating to toleration. Whatever may be said concerning the rigidity with which they maintained their religious tenets and the tenacity and skill with which they met and defeated their opponent in religious disputations, yet it cannot be denied that the Jainas fostered the principle of teleration more sincerely and at the same time more successfully than any other community in India".
5. Encouragement to Social Welfare
Along with the maximum emphasis on the actual observance of Ahimsa, the Jaina Acharyas greatly extended the implications of Ahimsa. They invariably stressed both the negative and the positive aspects of Ahimsa. They strongly advocated that the concept of Ahimsa should not be confined only to the negative side of it, that is, the avoidance of injury to the living beings of different categories, but should be consis. tently applied in the positive way, that is, in the direction of increasing the welfare of all living beings. They always appealed to the people to bear good intentions about the prosperity of others, to show active interest in the welfare of the needy persons, and to take practical steps to ameliorate the miserable conditions of afflicted living beings including insects, birds, animals and men. This positive encouragement to
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