Studies in South Indian Jainism

Author(s): M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar

Page 93

AHIMSA.
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nence from everything that has life. Not only do they abstain absolutely from all kinds of flesh, but the more rigid of them 'drink oply filtered water, breathe only through a veil and go sweeping the ground before them, for fear of unconsciously swallowing or crushing any invisible animalcule.” How far this Jain respect for the life of living beings, a respect shown in daily practice, has influenced the Vedic rites and ceremonies can be seen from the fact that animal sacrifices in certain religious functions were completely stopped, and images of beasts made of flour were substituted for the real and veritabie ones required in conducting Yāgams. Tamil poets have received inspiration in this matter from the Jains and passages might be cited from Tamil literature to indicate the extreme abhorrence with which Dravidians, à large section of them at any rate, regarded eating flesh. :
Idol worship and temple building on a grand Temples and scale in South India have also to be attributed to Jain influence. The essence of Brahminism was not idol worship. How came it then that the Dravidians built 'large temples in honour of their gods? The answer is simple. The Jains erected statues to their Tirthankaras and other spiritual leaders and worshipped them in large temples. As this method of worship was highly
impressive and attractive, it, was at once . imitated. Especially after the advent of Appar
and Sambandar, a period of miracles and piety
Institutions.