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Jaina Contribution to Indian Society
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social welfare activities has been the most useful and noteworthy contribution of Jainas to India Culture.
This humanitarian approach to lessen the miseries of living beings was included in the Vrata, i.e. vow of Aparigraha, i.e. abstention from greed of wordly possessions. The vow of Aparigraha is the fifth of the five main vows which must be consistently followed by all persons. Aparigraha involves avoiding the fault of Parigraha which consists in desiring more than what is needed by an individual. Accumulating even neccessary articles in large numbers, expressing wonder at the prosperity of others, excessive greed and changing the proportions of existing possessions are all forms of Parigraha i.e. worldly attachments. This now aims at putting a limit on the worldly possessions by individuals according to their needs and desires. That is why this vow of Aparigraha is many times termed as Parigraha-Parimana-Vrata, i.e. the vow to limit one's worldly possessions.
This vow of Parigraha-Parimana is very noteworthy as it indirectly aims at economic equalization by peacefully preventing undue accumulation of capital in individual hands. It recommends that a householder should fix, beforehand, the limit of his maximum belongings, and should in no case, exceed it. If he ever happens to earn more than that he must spend it away in Dana, i.e. charities. The best forms of charities prescribed by religion are "ahara-abhaya-bhaishajya-shastra-dana," i.e. giving food to the hungry and the poor, saving the lives of people in danger, distribution of medicines and spreading knowledge. These charities are called the 'Chaturvidha-Dana' i. e. the fourfold gifts, by Jaina religion and it has been enjoined on the householders that they should make special efforts to give these charities to the needy-irrespective of caste or creed.
From the beginning the Jaina householders made it one of their cardinal principles to give four gifts to all persons who are in need of such help. In fact this help was extended to the protection and wellbeing of insects, birds and animals also. For this the Jainas established alm-houses, resthouses, dispensaries and educational institutions wherever they were concentrated in good numbers. The Anna-chhatralayas, i.e. alm-houses, were conducted at pilgrim and other centres for the benefit of poor-people. In the Dharma-Shalas, i. e. resthouses, lodging arrangements were provided without any charges or at nominal charges
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