Teachings of Mahavira
- Anupam Dixit
- May 19, 2016
- 1 min read
Teachings of Mahavira
The three principles of Jainism, also known as Triratnas (three gems), are:
Right faith
Right knowledge
Right conduct
Right faith is the belief in the teachings and wisdom of Mahavira. Right Knowledge is the acceptance of the theory that there is no God, that the world has been existing without a creator, and that all objects possess a soul. Right conduct refers to the observance of the five great vows:
not to injure life
not to lie
not to steal
not to acquire property
Not to lead Immoral life.
Both the clergy and laymen had to strictly follow the doctrine of ahimsa. Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness. They possess life and feel pain when they are injured. Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas and objected to the Vedic rituals. He advocated a very holy and ethical code of life. Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals. Similarly, the doctrine of asceticism and renunciation was also carried to extreme lengths by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture.
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