Mahavir Ki Vani

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Mahavir ki Vani" by Kailash, based on the excerpt from page 1:

The text emphasizes that true adherence to Mahavir's teachings goes beyond superficial actions and requires a profound inner transformation and commitment to his principles. It critiques followers who seek external recognition or engage in performative worship without embodying Mahavir's lived philosophy.

Key Themes and Arguments:

• True Acceptance vs. Material Offerings: Mahavir, the text implies, would not accept material possessions from those who are not "pad-vihina" (literally, without a place or position, but here suggesting a lack of inner purity or detachment). Instead, such things should be given to those who truly need them. Mahavir did not renounce the world to accumulate possessions.
• The Unfathomable Nature of Mahavir: The text acknowledges that each individual perceives Mahavir according to their own mental maturity. It suggests that no one has fully comprehended his humanity or universal brotherhood, making it difficult to even express the full realization of this aspiration.
• Genuine Devotion vs. Personal Cult: Mahavir did not desire blind devotion that would stifle individual thought and freedom. He also did not wish for his followers to simply erect statues, worship them daily in temples, chant his praises, or consider their duty fulfilled by delivering speeches on his life and principles.
• Embodiment of Principles is Key: The true followers of Mahavir, as he would have wanted, are those who live and practice his teachings in their own lives, becoming embodiments of his principles.
• Inner Growth Over External Status: Mahavir did not aspire for his followers to become high officials, live ostentatiously, or gain honor through any means. Instead, he expected them to become "exam-oriented" rather than "order-oriented." They were to focus on self-teaching and self-reflection ("introspection in the mirror of the inner self") for self-improvement. He hoped for their daily lives to be uplifted through timely changes in thought, heart, and circumstances.
• Modern Followers' Responsibility: The text urges contemporary followers to recognize their responsibilities from this perspective. They should consider renouncing worldly life and embracing the path of a devout householder (shravak) and eventually a monk (muni) after fulfilling their societal duties.
• Core Jain Principles to Uphold: Key to this path is the cultivation of compassion (jiv-daya) and abstaining from:
  • The Four Passions (Kashayas): Anger, pride, deceit, and greed.
  • The Five Sins (Paap): Violence, falsehood, theft, unchastity, and possession (greed).
  • The Seven Vices (Vyasan): Gambling, eating meat, consuming alcohol, engaging in illicit sexual relations (with prostitutes or others' wives), theft, and hunting.
• Distinguishing True Followers: Those who abandon justice for injustice, what is edible for what is inedible, and right faith (samyaktva) for wrong faith (mithyatva) are not true followers of Mahavir.
• Humility in Admiration: The text humbly acknowledges that even the learned scholars (Ganadhars) could not fully articulate Mahavir's glory, so ordinary individuals can only offer respectful salutations.
• Poetic Exhortations for Spiritual Awakening: The latter part of the excerpt consists of poetic verses (likely songs or poems) that serve as direct appeals to the reader, urging them to listen to Mahavir's teachings for their spiritual well-being. These verses highlight:
  • The futility of wasting life on worldly pursuits, being caught in the snare of illusion, and the transient nature of life.
  • The irony of accumulating wealth ("white and black money") in the name of religion without practicing charity, questioning what one will take with them in the end.
  • The importance of compassion, questioning how one's heart can remain untouched when a neighbor dies of hunger while one indulges in luxuries. It reminds the reader that their heart is a source of compassion.
  • The act of sowing seeds of discord for selfish gain and not reaping the fruits of unity, emphasizing the arrival of a "great day" that calls for unity.

In essence, "Mahavir ki Vani" as presented on this page advocates for a life of sincere spiritual practice, inner purity, ethical conduct, and compassionate action, urging followers to actively embody Mahavir's teachings rather than just intellectually acknowledging them or engaging in superficial rituals.