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Jainism

Jaina Sutras

Mahavira, Ahimsa & Vegetarianism

The Akaranga Sutra and The Kalpa Sutras in Jaina Sutras, translated from Prakrit by Hermann Jacobi, Vol. 22 of The Sacred Books of the East (Oxford, 1884; Sacret-Texts.com).

The Arhats and Bhagavats of the past, present, and future, all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus: all breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away [1].

As the last of the twenty-four Tirthakaras (perfectly enlightened ones), Mahâvîra's (599-527 BCE) teachings evolved into the Sacred Jain Texts dating Jainism and the concept of Ahimsa 1500 years prior, to about 2000 BCE [2].

A detailed discussion of Jain Sources [3] identifies the Äcäräõga, along with the Sütrakôtäõga, the Uttarädhyayana and the Kapla Sütra as the oldest and most important from the literary point of view of the Jaina canonical Sütras which enlighten us about the life and original teachings of Mahävïra. Considered one of the more noteworthy of the ancient texts of Jainism, the Äcäräõga Sutra elaborates on the first vow of a Jain, that of Ahimsa, the avoidance of "himsa" or injury toward any living being.

Although sometimes thought to have arisen in Hinduism, "the double doctrine of ahimsa and vegetarianism has never had full and unchallenged acceptance and practice among Hindus, and should not be considered to have arisen in Brahminical circles. It seems more probable that it originated in non-Brahminical environment, and was promoted in historic India by the Jains and adopted by Brahmanism Hinduism [4].

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[1] "Fourth Lecture Called Righteousness," in The Akaranga Sutra in Jaina Sutras, translated from Prakrit by Hermann Jacobi, Vol. 22 of The Sacred Books of the East (Oxford, 1884; Sacret-Texts.com).

[2] "Life of Mahâvîra, Lecture 2") in The Akaranga Sutra and The Kalpa Sutras in Jaina Sutras, Translated from Prakrit by Hermann Jacobi, Vol. 22 of The Sacred Books of the East (Oxford, 1884; Sacret-Texts.com).

[3] K. C. Jain, Jainism Sources in Various Topics Prepared on Jain History by Dr. K. C. Jain and His Team; Online at Jainworld.com

[4] Prof. W. Norman Brown, Man in the Universe: Some Cultural Continuities in India [from his Tagore Memorial Lectures, 1965-66] (University of California Press, 1966; 1970; Preview Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks) 56.

Bal Patil, "Minority Recognition for the Jain Community," (Online at Jainsamaj.org).

Bal Patil, The Jaina and the British, Bal Patil Speech: Tubingen University International Jain Workshop 19. & 20. Feb. . 2010 (GRIN Verlag, 2010; Preview Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).