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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
courageously and freed people from the tyranny of a coterie which imposed its views on others. He also liberated people from violence and mental slavery. He broke down the barriers of class-system and removed the distinctions based on caste or creed. All are equal, he averred and everyone is entitled to moksha, irrespective of caste, gender, age or status. He was instrumental in Chandanbala becoming the first sadhvi. Anybody can be great provided he/she practises truth and love and has humanitarian outlook. Greatness has nothing to do with birth, caste or status. Live and let live, he said and preached peaceful coexistence.
Kshatriyas were engaged in fratricidal wars in those days. Violence was rampant and vices had a field day. At that time Mahavira's message was: Wars or fights with others will not help; fight with yourself and annihilate the enemies within : desires, possessiveness, attachment, violence. Conquer them and you will be happy, was his message. The way to supreme bliss lies in conquering one's ownself.
Mahavira tested his body and soul during his life-time. During his period of penance of about twelve years and six months, he ate food for only 349 days and that, too, once a day. Rest of the days he fasted and even abjured water for about four thousand days. He must have walked thousands of miles barefooted and bare-bodied. He, thus, demonstrated soul-force, and triumph of will.
Mahavira founded the sangh of sadhu, sadhvi, shravak and shravika known as tirth and hence he is known as tirthankara. Attachment, he said, is the source of all sins: violence, falsehood, carnal desires etc. The modern age witnesses an
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Timeless Message of Bhagwan Mahavira unprecedented proliferation of violent tendencies caused by man's instinct of possessiveness. It is this instinct which has rendered human beings inhuman and violent. True happiness lies in "The less I have, the more I am", but who listens ? The principle of aparigraha (non-possessiveness) advocated by Mahavira appealed to Mahatma Gandhi so much that he thought of the principle of trusteeship. "You are just a trustee", he said, "of what extra you have; you are a protector of that extra and you have to distribute it fairly among the people to whom it rightfully belongs."
Follow the five yama, says Mahavira. Just as fire burns everything, allow your desires to be burnt and follow some ideals and principles and you are sure to taste the fruit of happiness.
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