Pristine Jainism

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

Page 30

Samyaktva (Rationality) : (27) also common in Jain rituals. Fire is harmful to insects and is outright violence. Wood used is manufactured dry wood obtained by cutting green trees. Burning fire and offering butter rice etc are in no way instrumental to purify soul. It is only the rational trinity that helps. Saints, scholars and others justifying these wrong and irrational practices start quoting certain scriptures knowing fully well that many scriptures are at variance with fundamentals. Available scriptures are not canonical (Agama) but post canonical (Agametara) written by mundane beings (not kevali), coming from different backgrounds including Brahmanical under different situations and are not correct in all respects. Truth will have to be sifted after examining relevant background and situations of writers. Writer saints had many constraints of lost knowledge after kevali-śruta-kevali and also compulsion of prevailing situations. Earlier mythological stories (Purāṇa) were not written, but when these were getting popular in other sects, Jains also started similar scriptures. There are several aberrations in mythological literature. There has been tendency or compulsion in writers to glorify the victorious rulers and minimise the good deeds of vanquished or even denounce him. There is much ado for Bharata Cakravarti than for Bahubali when actually by all standards Bahubali was far superior. Similar is the tendency in case for Rāma and Rāvaṇa, Kṛṣṇa and Jarasandha, Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas. The compelling situations also forced the then writers to incorporate concepts of other sects also. Readers of Puranic literature will come across such obscene and vivid description of eyes and curves of women that there is hitch in reciting them before mothers, sisters and daughters. Such writings are from eminent saints like Jinasena and Gunadhara, etc. who have themselves denounced and forbade even reading of these because it is transgression of the vow of celibacy. There are numerous examples of glaring contradictions. The point is that all portions of available literature are not truly according to tenets of Jainism. While Jainism lays stress on equality, many saints force devotees to abstain water from Śūdras, though it is punishable under law. Likewise, caste based distinction does not confirm