Pristine Jainism

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

Page 51

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Pristine Jainism
the only solution. Simultaneously planting of trees must have also been advised. Once the mixed poly-culture forests yielding variety of food and other products started flowering and fruiting, temporary agriculture could be stopped. Prompted by the concept of Kalpavṛkṣas author prepared a project, "Human Nutrition from Forest Seeds" which was sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology and Sneh Sharma has evaluated the nutritional status of forest seeds in her Ph.D. thesis. It was found that edible forest seeds are more nutritious than the cereals. Because of uncertainties in agriculture due to climatic and other natural vagaries, numerous superstitions flourished with it and then in other spheres.
Harmful Impact of Agriculture:
The known history of humankind and even mythology and prehistoric records are replete with stories of conflicts, wars and misery to one and all. Saner persons Jains and others all through ages have been striving for mitigating the sufferings. These great thinkers evolved life styles and code of conduct, practised, lived themselves, and advised people to follow it. But for the sobering impact of good saints and sages the picture would have been much more cruel and sombre. They have all stressed symbiotic relationships, mutualism not only among human beings but all living beings and even physical resources i.e. principle of give and take in such a way that it benefits both the giver and taker, limiting, minimising sensuous pleasures, wants, greed and suicidal consumerism. The cyclic changes, descending and ascending are in direct proportion to man's greed and vice-versa. It was the greed of man that destroyed the forests (Kalpavṛkṣas) and necessitated development and extension of agriculture. This changed the living pattern from commonality to individualism. With agriculture came the concept of individual property and ownership and the resultant feuds. Rākṣasas the sections of people who protected forests and lived on naturally available resources were gradually defeated and annihilated. The practice of agriculture gained primacy, more and more extensive areas of forests were cleared and converted into agricultural fields. We read of Khāṇḍavadaha (burning and clearing of forests) in Mahabharata. The process continued till recently