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JAIN CULTURE
D Arihan Mukesh Jain
Kota
After achieving enlightenment at the some rituals with the help of others. age of 42, Lord Mahavira toured diffe- A path laid dowd by him consisted of rent parts of the country for 30 years right faith, right knowledge right conto preach the Principles and rules of duct. Further, he impressed on the conduct as laid down by Jainism. This peopie the theory ot Karma which is had a considerable impact especially based on the principle of self reliance. among the down trodden sections of This theory of Karma has been an orithe mankind. As a result the number ginal and integral part of Jain idealogy. of confirmed adherents to the Jain Lord Mahavir laid great emphasis on the religion began to increase steadily. observence of Ahimsa i. e. non injury to Lord Mahavira organised his followers living beings. Ahmisa was realised and in to a compact social order quite disti- preached by 23 Thirthan kars preceding nct from that of the Brahamaic one of him. In fact the philosophy and rules the Vedic period who had begun to of conduct laid down in Jaina religion claim superiority and even sacredass for have been based on the foundation of themselves.
ahimsa. By propagating the principle Lord Mahavira threw open the doors
of ahimsa he launched a vigorous attack, of Jainism to all regardless of class against meat eating and evils. like Shudras and women who were As the principle of Ahimsa permeats barred from the right of intiation and the life of Jains; the Jain culture is investment with the sacred thread. The referred as ahimsa culure. If the Jains very sight of woman and Shudra were are known for anything it is for the considered inauspicious.
evolution of ahimsa culture practised Lord Mahavira revolutionised the
and propogated from ancient times. attitude of the people towards God. The Indeed. it is admitted that as result common belief according to Vedic of the activities of the Jains for the last theory, still prevails. was that the world so many centuries ahimsa still forms the was created by God and that God substratum of Indian character as a carried on the work of controlling the whole. avents in this world. This popular blind
Dr. B. A. Saletore has rightly obsebelief created a sense of complete rved in this regard that "the principle of dependence on God.
Ahimsa is partly responsible for the Lord Mahavira launched an attack greatest contribution of the Jains to on this attitude. He asserted that this Indian culure-that relating to toleration. world was eternal and had not been Whatever may be said concerning the created by any power and that the happ- reigidy with which they have maintaenings in this world were not controlled ined their religious tenets & the tenacity by God. He proclaimed that nothing here and skill with which they met and defor else where was dependent on the ated their opponents in religious dispufavours of God. But everything depe- tations, yet it can not be denied that the nded on the actions of the individual. Jains praifesed the prineiple of toleration He stated that all persons could achieve more sincerely and at the sa salvation by observing ethical code of more successfully than any other commconduct and not by merely peerforming unity in India."
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