Jainism

Author(s): Vallabh Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabh Smarak Nidhi

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least foulty men of the world. We infer from this the grand moral “ what law and fear of punishment, could not do, Jainism has accomplished by means of its simple and chaste process of missionary activity.”
Now, the Jains as merchants have formed a very rich, powerful and influential factor of the Indian community. They have contributed much to the happiness and prosperity of India. From the description of some Jain Shrawaks in the Jain Suttra Upasaka-dasa, we find that they possessed immense wealth aud held great influence with the community. They were famous not only for their considerable wealth, but as admirable examples of loyalty, truthfulness and devotion to other's welfare. Indian History is full of instances of Jain merchants who have distinguished themselves by their benevolence and selfsacrifice, in critical times of famine and scarcity at the time of Mogal Emperors and Rajput Ranas. The popuiar saying e Die atc fe arte convinces to what height of greatness and influence the Jain merchants had reached in the past. Even now they have a lion's share in the country's trade and exercise immense influence with other communities. An adequate idea of their great and widespread