Journey Of Ahimsa

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

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A Journey of Ahimsa
violence - killing a living organism - is the worst. Therefore give up violence and professionals who depend on it will get free food grains for three years from the state's granary." He stopped the practice of offering animal sacrifice to goddess Kantakeshwari. Under his proclamation, known as Amari Proclamation, he closed down slaughterhouses and put a stop to animal torture. The fact that, by and large, the people of Gujarat are nonviolent and show love for animals is due, in large measure, to the deeds of king Kumarpal under the inspiration of Hemchandracharya.
During the period of Sheth Jagdusha, 108 buffaloes were sacrificed to propitiate the goddess. Jagdusha found the practice abhorrent and he placed himself on the first step leading to the temple and his son on the second step, for sacrifice instead of the buffaloes to see whether the goddess would be in rage or not. The goddess was not and his belief in non-violence triumphed. He fed the people of Gujarat, Sindh, Mewar, Delhi and Kandhar during three successive droughts. About 5 lakh people were fed daily in the 115