Pristine Jainism

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 22

Samyaktva (Rationality) : (19) not perfect, free from flaws and contradictions as that of omniscient (Kevali). There are contradictions in eminent saints also. A particular saint wrote in a particular situation and his version might be right and relevant in that particular situation. Another saint's version might be different in a different situation. It is interesting to note that readers of Quran are instructed to read different portions with reference to contexts to understand it properly. There are many things, which are relevant for a particular point of time but not for all times. In the string of timespecific pearls of knowledge, there is underlying thread of fundamental principles and tenets, which are relevant for all times and situations. It is necessary to reach this time less thread of knowledge hidden under the glare of time-specific pearls of knowledge. The search is arduous but must. Even the time and situation specific pearls of knowledge, some are genuine and many are fake and illusory. Many concepts which are quite contrary to fundamentals of Jainism have been accepted and incorporated under compulsions and force of prevailing situations because of nonJaina rulers, Saivaits and Brahmanical onslaughts and fierce invasions and inhuman atrocities of Sakas, Hūņas, Mohammedan and other invaders.
Passive Pseudo Devotion (Bhakti):
The barbarian invaders inflicted so much atrocities and cruelties that the entire social fabric, its cohesion, social and religious values were almost completely shattered. Shambhaji son of great Maratha Chatrapati Shivaji, who rebelled against his father and joined Mughal army commander Afzal Beg has given a hoary picture of cruelties of Mughal armies. He has written that from wherever the Mughal armies passed, they destroyed, burnt villages after villages, and slaughtered cows, children, and raped women. Seeing these armies coming, people would run helter skelter, try to hide in forests, creeks or wherever possible leaving not only material assets but also their near and dear ones, sons, daughters, wives, sisters, old parents and infirms. In such situation the main concern was own survival as happens generally during fire in a house or village as a first reflex action. The civilised society of the country