Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 51

The Jains through Time
The more I look at this golden period of between pravrutti (the active life) and the Jains in South India, the more its beauty nivrutti (abstention from worldly acts), increases. The age that sings the pure notes knowing exactly which was appropriate at of Jainism blends harmoniously with the any given moment. They were thus able to melody I sing. The Jain acharyas used their do creative and excellent work in South wisdom and spiritual powers to influence India for a thousand years, memories of both royalty and the common people alike which, centuries later, remain a priceless for centuries. This pure form of Jainism was part of my being. due to the universal love practised by Jain acharyas; they had no expectations for the What makes me sad is that, despite its aggrandisement of self. The main invaluable contribution to society and a proponents of this triumphant journey of profoundly proactive stance, Jainism is still Jainism were the shramans. They were so dismissed as a religion of nivrutti alone. It caught up in the blissful path of altruistic stands accused of an irresponsible attitude action that their individual identities towards the welfare of humanity. The extent merged with this great mission. Such was of its influence has been belittled and its role their virtue that the tiny seed of Tirthankar in the betterment of the world at large has Mahavir's religion grew into a great banyan not been taken into account. This has tree. In my view the duty of a true disciple happened because the historical, social and is always to take the burning torch from his cultural achievements of Jainism at all levels guru and make it into a great bonfire, thus have not been recognised. Jainism is a lighting up everyone's life.
religion of samyak pravrutti (taking the right
action) as well. Nowhere in Jainism, Jainism: A Balance Between
whether it be in its principles or practices, Pravrutti and Nivrutti
its thoughts or deeds, is there a withdrawal I think that the shramans of South India from responsibility towards family, society completely understood the difference or nation.