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NEW IDEOLOGIES NEW TRADITIONS
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Mahavira, in facts, lent his support to the institution of rites, of course, in a modified form Vedic literature also mentions non-violent rites, if the institution be traced to pre-Mahaviran era, It can be asserted that Mahavira endorsed it if his contribution to the practice be evaluated, it would be in the fitness of things to say that Mahavira replaced the violent rite with the non-violent one
Mahavira was blessed with an exhaustive mission He examined truth from innumerable stances His non-exclusive vision offers no word of refutation for any other religious system Why would he repudiate sacrificial rite then ?
Only one act he denounced, and denounced it with fervour--the act of violence All violence was anathema to him, whether it be the violence committed by shramanas or the one by Vedic votaries The sects of shramana or Vedic were not the objects of discrimination in his liberal philosophy The touchstone was observance of non-violence or otherwise His heart was one of a martial race but it was drenched with non-violence
The Lord's disciples disseminated his non-violent word amongs
es Said Harikesh at Yagnavat-'Brahmins! Your rites are not superior'
Said they, 'How it be so, saint?' 'The rite which bears violence is low and base '! *Then tell us what a superior rite is'
'The rite incorporating self-abnegation, restraint, nonviolent conduct is the cherishable Yagna'
'Do you also perform rites?' 'I do and do it each day' Rudradeo was surprized at this revelation
Said he, with a keen inquisitiveness, 'Which be the five fires in which you sacrifice the offerings? Where be youraltar? What ladles do you pour butter with? Which dungcakes do you use as fuel? What other fuels do you use? What are your hymns with which you invoke lasting peace and what else is it that you offer to the divine fire ?'
