Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 49

Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution 39
Buddha also highlighted the spiritual and social meaning of yajñas in place of yajñas that involve violence. Not only this, he emphasized that true yajña means cooperation in social life. The Upanişad and the Gītā also, condemn the prevalent ritual of yajñas etc., which is quite similar to the viewpoint of Śramanic tradition, and they have also explained yajña from the social and spiritual point of view. In social context yajña has been interpreted as social service. Social service without attachment is recognized in the Gītā as yajña. The Gītā however, has shown the spiritual aspect of yajña as well. It (the Gītā) says: the yogis put the objects of their senses such as those of hearing etc as oblations in the fire of their self-control. Yogis put all their activities of senses and activities of expansion and contraction of prāna-tattva (life essence) as oblations into knowledge -illuminated and self-controlled fire of yoga, which has the purity, and brightness of dhāranā, dhyāna and sarādhi. In this fire of yoga the activities of prāņa (life-essence) and senses disappear. It resembles the fire that spreads by adding oil or ghee. Thus, this spiritual interpretation of yajña propounded by Jaina dharma is appreciated in Buddhist and Vedic traditions. This is the main contribution of Sramaņa to Hindu tradition.