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62: Śramaņa, Vol 63, No. 3, July-Sep. 2012 centuries? and what is the true motivation of its leadership? Some would have believed that it has brought peace and harmony to the world and that its leaders are motivated by the service of their God. But it is not true about the every religion because there are many religions who do not believe in God. Each and every religion has its own set of code of conduct and cliams that he is the true advocate of world peace. Jainism being a prime religion of Sramanic tradition, has offered principles and ethics like five great vows (mahāvratas-non-violence, truth, nonstealing, non-possession, and celebacy), five mionor vows (aņuvratas- sthūla prāņatipāta-viramaņa, sthūla mrşāvāda-viramaņa, sthūla-adattādāna-viramaņa, svadāra-santoșa and icchāparimāņa), non-absolutism (anekāntavāda), law of qualified assertion (syādvāda), doctrine of karmas and many more which could evolve peace and happiness in one's life and could be instrumental in maintaining peace worldwide.
In this paper I would discuss as to how the code of conduct set for lay devotees (aņuvratas) can help us in maintaining peace at the level of individual and world as well.
In Jainism, the milder form of practice prescribed for a Householder is called Aņuvrata. It is of five types called as-(1) Non-violence (Ahimsāņuvrata), (2) Truthfulness (Satyāņuvrata), (3) Non-Stealing (Asteyāņuvrata), (4) Celibacy (Brahmacaryā-ņuvrata) and (5) NonPossession (Aparigrahāņuvrata).
1. Non-Violence (Ahimsā): The principle of non-violence or ahimsā is the first among Pañcaśīla of Buddhism, Pancaśīla of Jainism and Pañcaśīla of Pātanjala-Yoga, the slight difference as one can see in nomenclature of this principle in each system is due to the difference in the language used in their scriptures. But the term 'ahimsā” is the most popular among all. Non-violence has been emphasized by religious exponents, social reformers and political leaders and above all, it has been accepted as important from the point of view of one's own self. Thus it is
