Path of Arhat

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi

Page 41

16]
The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
who performed religious penances by lightening fire all round him. For this purpose many trees were cut and logs of wood were burnt. Parśva realised that this practice killed living creatures taking shelter in the trees and logs of wood. Once on seeing a big serpant being burnt alive, he saved it and incurred the wrath of Kamagha. For this he had to pay heavily because, as the story goes, Kamatha, the ascetic, subsequently tormented Paráva, when the later was performing austerities after renouncing the world. After living in splendour and happiness as a house-holder for thirty years, Pārsva became an ascetic, took to meditation and at the end of 84 days of intense austerities, he attained perfect knowledge of a 'Kevali'. He lived for about one hundred years during which he formed Jaina Saigh (organization ) consisting of four components, i. e., Monks, nuns, male and female house. holders. Sangha was again divided into 'Ganas' groups and Ganadharas where the group-heads. The whole Jaina organization functioned in a systematic framework. As Ári Dharmananda Kaušámbi, records? - "Janmejaya succeeded Parīkşita. He performed a Mahayajña in 'Kuru Deśa, and unfurled the flag of Vedic religion. At that time Parsva was laying the foundation of a new culture at Kasi.”
“Parśvanātha's philosophy was practical. He preached that violence, untruth, theft and greed should be abandoned. This four-fold rule of conduct was his religion which he propagated throughout India. To give an organised shape to the doctrine of Ahinsa in such ancient times was a mile-stone in the history of India.
“Parsva co-ordinated the doctrine of Ahimsa with the doctrines of Truth, non-stealing and non-possession. Till then the doctrine of non-violence was confined to the conduct of ascetics, living in forests. Pārsva brought that doctrine to
1. Kausambi, Dharmananda : Bharatiya Samskşti aur Ahinsa
quoted by Amar Muni in Jainatva ki Jhanki, Hindu, p. 34,