Mahavir Ke Samsamayik Mahapurush - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Mahavir ke Samsamayik Mahapurush" by Sohanraj Kothari, based on the provided pages:

The book "Mahavir ke Samsamayik Mahapurush" by Sohanraj Kothari highlights a pivotal era in world history, approximately five to six centuries before Christ. This period witnessed a significant shift in human thought, marked by intellectual refinement and maturity, and a rebellion against rigid rituals and the communities that controlled them. During this time, great luminaries emerged in advanced nations like India, China, and Greece, who championed individual dignity and established new philosophies and standards. Their teachings, focused on achieving excellence through personal thought and conduct, not only shaped contemporary thinking but also provided inspiration for generations to come, making them enduring sources of faith and enlightenment.

The text then proceeds to briefly introduce several of these influential figures who were contemporaries of Lord Mahavir:

Lord Buddha (India): Born around 560 BCE in Kapilavastu, Buddha renounced his princely life at the age of 26, driven by the realization of suffering (old age, sickness, death). After years of rigorous spiritual practice, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at 35. He advocated the Eightfold Path as the solution to suffering, which emphasizes right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. This path leads to wisdom and Nirvana, the cessation of desire and suffering. Buddha established a monastic order (Sangha) for monks and nuns, propagating principles of truth, non-violence, love, compassion, service, and renunciation. He attained Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar around 486 BCE.
Zoroaster (Iran): Born around 600 BCE in Eastern Iran, Zoroaster emerged from a priestly lineage. His teachings greatly influenced King Vistaspa of Bactria, who helped spread his message. Zoroaster was martyred at the age of 70 while praying at an altar. He founded Zoroastrianism, whose core principles are Humata (good thoughts), Hukhta (good words), and Huvarshta (good deeds). The religion worships "Ahura Mazda," the Lord of the spiritual and material worlds. The central tenet is the acceptance of truth and the rejection of falsehood. Ahura Mazda is described with seven attributes: Good Thought, Truthful Order, Best Dominion, Devotion, Wholeness, Immortality, and the Wise Lord. The holy book is the Avesta, a compilation of Zoroaster's teachings.
Lao Tzu (China): Born approximately 2500 years ago in China, Lao Tzu, known for his white hair at birth, suggesting extraordinary wisdom, served as a keeper of government records. He was a recluse and a proponent of the "Tao." Renouncing worldly affairs, he left the state but was persuaded by a gatekeeper at the Quanyan pass to write his philosophy. He composed the "Tao-Teh-Ching," a 5,000-word work in 466 verses, which is revered in Taoism. Lao Tzu's philosophy emphasizes "action without attachment to the doer" and attributes the highest divinity to the Tao, described as infinite, incomprehensible, and formless. Taoism encourages virtues like compassion, moderation, and humility.
Confucius (China): Born in 551 BCE in China, Confucius held various government positions, including a storekeeper and later a minister. He was also a prolific teacher, establishing a school with thousands of students. His good governance as a ruler of Chungt led to great happiness for his subjects. However, he left his state due to political intrigue and spent thirteen years wandering and preaching. He passed away in 478 BCE at the age of 73, deeply mourned across the nation. Confucius emphasized human virtues, public welfare, righteousness, sincerity, and the development of good character. His core principle is: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." He promoted five virtues: Jen (benevolence), Chun Tsu (proper conduct), Li (propriety), Te (moral courage/integrity), and Pen (generosity/kindness). He profoundly influenced Chinese culture and thought.
Pythagoras (Greece): Born in 580 BCE on the island of Samos, Pythagoras later moved to Croton (Southern Italy) due to political tyranny. There, he organized his philosophical ideas, advocating for liberation from the cycle of birth and death through discipline and virtuous living. His community included thinkers dedicated to mathematics and science, as well as ethical and religious studies. Pythagoras was interested in mathematics, astronomy, and the harmonious relationship between music and numbers. He deeply contemplated the divine origin of the soul, its immortality, and its transmigration, as well as the unity of all living beings. He proposed three key self-reflection questions: "What good did I do?" "What did I fail to do that I should have?" and "In which of my sacred endeavors did I fail?" He died in 466 BCE, spreading his virtuous influence.
Socrates (Greece): Born in 470 BCE, Socrates, though a craftsman, was deeply engrossed in mathematics and astronomy. He dedicated his life to providing intellectual guidance to the public, resolving problems with logic and reason, which unfortunately created enemies within the ruling establishment. Accused of disrespecting the gods and corrupting the youth with new doctrines, he was sentenced to death. Despite a month in prison awaiting execution, he maintained extraordinary patience and tolerance, continuing to impart teachings on the immortality of the soul and the transience of the body to young men. He refused to escape, choosing to accept his fate with serene acceptance and drinking the hemlock with joy. Declared the wisest man in Greece by the Oracle of Delphi, Socrates famously stated, "I know that I know nothing." He believed that the development of divinity in conduct was the path to self-realization. While he founded no sect and wrote no books, his dialogues and teachings profoundly influenced society and his intellectual brilliance and pure character have earned him universal reverence.
Plato (Greece): Born in 427 BCE, Plato was deeply influenced by Socrates from his youth. Initially aspiring to a political career, he grew disillusioned with the atrocities of monarchy and the flawed democracy that condemned Socrates. He studied with the Pythagorean community and was once sold into slavery but was fortunately bought by an admirer. Returning to Athens in 387 BCE, he established an academy for philosophical and scientific research, where he lectured on mathematics and philosophy. His philosophy emphasized a religious and virtuous life. Plato valued intellectual pursuit, considering mathematics and geometry as paths to ultimate truth. He believed that only intellect was truly valuable, far surpassing worldly wealth and comforts. His contemplation of the eternal and immutable soul aimed at achieving equanimity and liberation from suffering.

Conclusion:

The author concludes by stating that this brief overview of the philosophies and lives of Lord Mahavir's contemporaries reveals a global awakening around the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. This era saw a burgeoning of intellect and clarity of thought, with the aforementioned figures from India, China, Iran, and Greece contributing significantly to this transformative period. While direct influence between them is uncertain due to limited communication, a shared yearning for new avenues of thought was evident across populations. These great souls, through their sacred practices, guided humanity towards the right path, establishing enduring ethical standards that remain relevant and eternal. Their achievements are a testament to their extraordinary spiritual strength and conscious intellect, offering salvation to humanity. The author emphasizes the need for comparative study and review of their ideals to make them even more useful and beneficial for the welfare of humankind.