ID SONI
During the sixth century B.C. two princes of royal Blood, Gautam (543 B.C. to 523 B.C.) the founder of Buddhism and Vardhaman Mahavira (599 B.C. TO 527 B.C.) founder of Jainism spearheaded the reactionary movement in order to purge the society of its manifold evils like the animal sacrifices and expensive rituals.
Vardhaman Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara or ford-finder. The first saint of this faith Was Rishabha deva and 23rd was Paravashanath (877 to 777 B.C.). Mahavira came of a royal family, son of Sidhartha, the chief of Lichhavi tribe and his mother was Trishla. He wasborn at Kundalgram near Vaisali in Bihar. He was married to Yasodha and had a daughter. At the age of thirty, he left his home after the death of his parents to find God. He wandered naked and homeless. People persecuted him and set dogs on him. He never sought medical aid. In winter he meditated in the shade and in summer, he seated himself in the scorching sun. He passed twelve years in severe penance and in the 13th year, at the age of 42, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge or kevalgyana under a sal tree near an old temple in the field belonging to a householder name semaga.
In his childhood he was named Vira. He was called Vardhamana. Later on, he was called Mahavira, “great hero”. A story has it, that he was given that epithet when, playing with his friends one day he subdued with great dignity a big black snake by catch holding it and throwing it away. To us the story is a parable. For Mahavira has truly subdued the snake of passion. He was, indeed, a great hero. He conquered raga and dvesha. The central note of his life was Virya vitality. It was life of supreme shakti.
His predecessor Parsvanath had advocated four vows, (i) not to injure life, (ii) not to steal, (iii) not to tell a lie, (iv) not to possess any property and Mahavira added the, (v) vow of chastity. He believed that God is only, “the highest, the noblest and the fullest manifestation of all the powers which lie latent in the soul of man. According to him, it was all waste to recite mantras and perform the sacrifices. The three essentials, the three jewels or “Tri Ratna” he emphasised are (i) Right Faith-belief in Trithankars, (ii) Right knowledge-belief in salvation, (iii) Right conduct :-Belief in five vow cited above. By following the five vows, one travel anywhere to lead a virtuous life. These vows (i) non injury, (ii) truthfulness, (iii) non stealing, (iv) non attachment and (v) celibacy (Brahmcharya) are the essentials ingridients of an ideal character and conduct.
No nation may hope to achieve hreatness without the inspiration which comes of honouring its heros. Herworship is the true foundation of national prosperity. Mahavira is one of the greatestheros of Aryavarta. His continues to shine among the immortals of history.
Poor is India, in material wealth. Yet rich is India, in human resources. What may not her millions do if they but will-to-do? And how many has not India produced, age after age, men great in power of the spirit? They have sacrificed India’s soil: they have made India rich in the wealth of spirit. Mahavira was the true superman of the spirit in India. He was not a superman of egoism and violence, but superman of purity, Tapasya and love.
Ahimsa is the most important doctrine of Jainism. His non injury in word, thought and deed beings. Some monks and nuns walk about barefooted and tie a piece of cloth round their mouth so that they may notinhale the tiny insect in the air. They even strain water before drinking. They believe that all things, animate and (men, animals, plants, wind, and fire) have souls and no injury should be done to them. The Jian scriptures are called ‘Angas’ and were written by Umasvati or Umasvami.
Jainism teaches us that every human is responsible for his or actions and all livings have an eternal soul (Jiva). It insists that we live, act and think respectfully and honour the spiritual nature of all life. God is infinite knowledge (Anant Gyan), per caption (Anant Darshan), Consciousness (Anant Chetna) and happiness (Anant Sukh).
As fire does not put out fire, so evil does not put out evil”,was the note sounded by the great Rishi of Russia, Tolstoy. And the Tolstoy’s doctrine is traced to the teaching of Jesus: resist not evil”. Yet over five centuries before Jesus, the teaching of ahimsa was taught and practised by two Indian.
Sages and Rishis, Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. The Jain worship Mahavira as Bhagawan, the lord, the blessed one. Jainism does not believe an omnipotent supreme being or creator but in an external universe governed by natural laws and the interplay of its attributes (gunas) of matter (dravys). How beautiful the life of Mahavira! He goes from place to place to preach his doctrine and many mock at him: he is silent. At meetings they disturb him, insult him: he is silent. A band of men beat him in the forest as he sits in meditation: he is silent. A disciple of his deserts him and goes about spreading evil reports against him: he is silent. He becomes a Mahavira, a great victor, a superman and a ‘Mighty Hero’ of the motherland, because he develops santi-shakti, the power of peace. His life influenced profoundly his flowers. They carried his message far and wide. It is said that pyrrho, the Greek thinker, studied philosophy at the feetofGymnosophists: and as the name suggests, the Gymnosophists were Jain Yogis.
Modern India, too, needs heroes. Money or mere knowledge can do little. Our piteous need, today, is men who, casting out fear from their hearts, would serve this ancient land. The heroism of Mahavira was reflected in his life and his teaching. It was a life of singular self-conquest: and his teaching as a Mighty hero was bold one: “Regard all creatures as thyself and harm no one!” In these words we have the double doctrine of ahimsa, positive and negative. The positive refers to the vision of unity: see thyself in all. The negative grows out of it: Harm no one. To see the self in all is to refrain from injury to anyone. Harmlessness grows out of the vision of the one in all.
According to mighty Hero-Mahavira, all life is sacred. So tear no leaf from the tree, crush no flower, harm no insect. Is it a foolish sentiment to treat insects, animals and birds with kindness? There was a time when it was thought foolish to treat “coloured” men as human beings! An Englishman in South Africa said the negro had no soul. The life and message of Mahavira emphasised three ideas. (1) Brahmacharya which means, literally, walking with God.Brahmachariya is purity, is self-restraint (2) Anekanlavada or syadvada. Mahavira taught that no one view of the universe could express the truth in its fullness: for Truth is Ananta (endless). We suffered much in recentyears from strife and hate in the name of “Creed”.Creeds have created divisions and querrels. Let a new conception of the spiritual life create a new unity, a new national life. For truth is infinite. And religion was meant not to create discords and conflicts, but to teach humility and love. (Ahimsa). And ahimsa, Mahavira taught, is anything but in action or cowardice. Ahimsa is something very positive. Indeed, it is something more even than virtue. It is a Shakti, an energy. It is the energy of peace, the will-to-peace in a warring world. Mahavira mentally asked to refrain 18 activities- violence, untruth, Theft, unchaste behaviour, Possessiveness, Anger, Arrogance, Greed, Deceit, Attachment, Hatred Arguing, Accusation, Gossip, Criticism, Prejudice and dislikes- Malice, Wrong belief.
“Satya is unchangeable that which has no distortion that is beyond distinctions of time, space and person that which pervades the universe in all in its constancy”. Human life progresses from childhood to adolescence, to youth, to old age. Humanlife or its receptacle the body is not Satya or Truth. One of theremarkable sayings of this “Mighty Hero”- Mahavira is, “you are your own friend”.Yes ; and you are your own enemy. Be your friend! Do not be your enemies! We all are in search of happiness and peace. If we really want to be happy and to live peaceful life than make other happy and create peaceful atmosphere. He who blesses other is blessed, and he who injuries other is injured, said Mighty Hero. Let us, therefore, adhere to the doctrine of Mahavira in our everydaylife, and rekindle once again the light of love in the world.