Lecture On Jainism

Author(s): Lala Banarasidas
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 11

slaughtered during Paggusan days in places where Jains dwelt. Hindu Rajas like the Maharana Shri Raj Singh of the ten thousand villages of Mewar issued commandments to their nobles, Ministers, Patels and Patwaris : "(1) That from time immemorial the temples and dwellings of the Jains have been authorised ; let none, therefore, within their boundary, carry animals to slaughter - This is their ancient privilege. (2) Whatever life, whether male or female, passes their abode for the purpose of being killed is amarah (is saved.)” Even now we find in maliy places privileges granted to the Jains that on Panchami, Ashtami and Chaturdashi, no animal should be slaughtcrca where Jains live. Nay, even the Bharbhooja cannot burn his Bhar on these sacred days. In my native place the butcher cannot cross the Jain lane with baskets containing flesh. And this Daya-maya Dharma, Jainism, was preached by Kshatriyas, and neither by the Brahmans, nor by the Vaishyas, nor by the Sudras. Some persons who are groping in the dark in this res. pect say that Jainism is a religion of the Banias, or that it is a religion of the Shravagis, or that it is a religion of the Vaishyas. But no! They are ignoranı, they are wrong, they are misinformed ! who say thus, who spcak thus, who talk thus. Jainism is a religion of the Kshatriyas. All Jain Tirthankaras from the Digambara Rishi Rishabha down to the Digambara Rishi Vardhaman were Kshatriyas, born in noble families, such as those of the Ikshvaku Vansa, Hari Vansı, &c.