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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision during the marriage feast. Prince Nemkumar was shocked and returned without getting married. Bhagwan Parshwanath retrieved a snake from a pile of wood to be used for the sacrificial fire - Yagna. This incident shows his concern for the life of a living creature and his innate sense of non-violence. King Shrenik, during Bhagwan Mahavira's time, had forbidden killing in any form and even women had played significant role in preventing war. Queen Mrigavati had prevented war by making a request to Bhagwan Mahavira. King Chandrayatha of Sudarshanpur and Namikumar of Mithila were at war and Madanrekha preached them non-violence on the battle-field and succeeded in preventing killings and bloodshed. King Ashok realised the futility of war after the battle of Kalinga and took to the path of non-violence, established relations with other states based on the principle of non-violence, mutual trust and tolerance. He, in a spirit of accommodation, returned the caves of Barbara to aajivak cult which was in opposition to the Buddhist cult. The rock edicts of emperor Ashoka are found at many places in India in which one finds the provison he had made for the treatment of human beings and animals. He had planted trees for shelter for human beings and animals and birds and had dug wells for drinking water.
In the year 186, before Vikram Samvat, Ashoka had framed rules for the protection of life in any form and one, who violated the rules, was severly punished. He had proclaimed a ban on animal killing and there were strict laws governing the killing of animals for meat consumption. Animal killing was not allowed for about fifty-six days in a year, and special supervisors were appointed for the purpose. Ashok, thus, was an advocate of non-violence, and if practised, it can augur well
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