How relevant is Mahavira’s path of ahimsa today

Bhagwan Mahavira or Vardhamana, the 24th tirthankara in Jainism, is perhaps the most underrated (and most misunderstood) religious figure in India and the world. History is written by victors and this is likely the reason Jainism, a line that lays importance on extreme non-violence, faded from the enormous influence it once likely had on the world.

It is clear from archaeological elements found across India, especially in the rural front, that Jainism was widespread and likely more common than any other religion, including Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism, which some consider is a founding tree of Jainism). Mahavira was also responsible for the rise of Jainism, when Buddhism (a sect of Sanatana Dharma then) was spreading summarily largely due to the simplicity of Gautam Buddha’s teachings – Buddha was a contemporary of Mahavira.

For example, the snake (Kundalini) worship, which is associated more with Jainism, is represented with temples found from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from east to west. Large donations were made for building Jain temples in south India by various Hindu kings, including the Chodas (Cholas).

Similarly, some of the mightiest kings of India like Mahameghabahana Kharabela of Kalinga were ardent followers of Jainism. Though they were Kshatriyas and fought battles, such kings never harmed those who didn’t desire to fight, never attacked to plunder or rule, laid a solid foundation for democracy, and turned to complete ahimsa or non-violence after their retirement.

Despite all this, very less is known about Jainism. We have almost no information about the tirthankaras, and a significant volume of books have no traces. Is it because Buddhism received the patronage of powerful kings like Ashoka who saw conversion (following Buddha) as a means of loyalty, and then the subsequent reestablishment of Santana Dharma and entry of Islam and Christianity in India? Or because people found it too austere to return to Jainism? We must wait for time to reveal the answers.

However, the teachings in Jainism remain as solid as ever, and, as mentioned earlier, laid the foundation for India’s democracy. The teachings of right knowledge, faith, conduct, and salvation, and the concept of souls offer deep answers to problems we face even today. Also, the, at times ridiculed, concept of ahimsa too. After all, the meek can never truly understand or adopt ahimsa — the name Mahavira itself means “the bravest”.

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MDDTimes Staff Writer

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