‘Mahaveer’s message is basis of our spirituality’

Speaking at the 21st Mahaveer Awards for Excellence in Human Endeavour organised by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation here, he said the spiritual greatness of India was evidenced by the sustainability of its civilization.

“Tolerance, mutual respect, acceptance and assimilation of all that is good have dictated our spiritual orientation,” he said and added Bhagwan Mahaveer’s message forms the very basis on which the spiritual foundations of the country rest.

He said Bhagwan Mahaveer, the 24th Tirthankara, who lived nearly 2,600 years ago, taught to respect the voice of the soul. Quoting Bhagwan Mahaveer, he said, “a living body is not merely an integration of limbs and flesh, but it is the abode of the soul, which potentially has perfect perception (Anant darshana), perfect knowledge (Anant jnana), perfect power (Anant virya), and perfect bliss (Anant sukha).”

Observing that the influence of Jainism in shaping the Tamil way of life goes back to several centuries, he said few in the audience would know that the Tamil Classics of the Sangam era dating back to more than 2,000 years were influenced by Jainism. He added that Sivaga Sinthamani and Valayapathi —two great epics of Tamil literary tradition —were written by Jain Monks.