Pristine Jainism

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

Page 50

Kalparkșas (Forests) in Jainism : (47) shade of tree belts did not effect the agricultural crops. The recent detailed research and study of Harappa and Sindhu culture have also proved the existence of practice of agro-forestry by Harappans. Agro-forestry was adopted during Second World War also for raising compensatory plantations free of cost. Forestland was given to landless people to plant tree species and grow agricultural crops also in the rows of trees till such time about 5-6 years trees start shading the crops. It was known as Taungya System and is taught in forest colleges.
Rşabhadeva was apostle of Ahimsā (Non-violence) and could not have advised cultivation of cereals and other crops which require tilling, sowing, weeding, watering repeatedly for every crop of 3 to 4 months duration. Agriculture practices entail lot of Hissă (violence) in tilling, sowing etc. Even Daulat Ram, the Jaina poet of previous century only has also described not only practising but advising agriculture as sin in his famous treatise Chaḥdhālā. देय न सो उपदेश, होय अघ बनज कृषि तै ।
Stanza II, Dhāla. IV Do not advise agriculture, as it is sin.
कर प्रमाद जल, भूमि, वृक्ष पावक न विराधे । असि, धनु, हल हिंसोपकरणं नहिं दे यश लाधे ॥
Stanza 12, Dhāla. VI
Do not damage water, soil, trees, and fire and do not give arms, bows and arrows, plough etc., which are instruments of violence
Agriculture is generally interpreted as planting of short-term crops but it is temporary agriculture. Planting of trees is also agriculture and is termed permanent agriculture or permaculture. Panicked by dwindling supply of food and other products from diminishing forests (Kalpavřkşas) people then must have sought advice of Rşabhadeva and he might have suggested agro forestry as both short and long-term solution. People needed food and growing short-term crop i.e. temporary agriculture was