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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
wanted this type of thing to happen as a part of his proposed marriage ceremony. He, therefore, set the bonded animals free first and then went back. He then sacrificed the pleasures of married life and material life permanently and went to Girnar for penance.
This event, from the life of the 23rd Tirthankara, teaches us never to do any physical harm to any living being. That is why the first among the 18 sinful acts indicated in the Jain religion is the vow of Pranatipat. Killing of any living being or taking away anyone's life is called Pranatipat. Similarly, the act of compassion, the Karuna Bhav is also given highest importance by the Jain religion as a means of salvation from the circle of life and death. That is why the Jain religion preaches compassion to every living being-big or small. The episode of the meeting between the Jain monk Hirvijaysuriji and Emperor Akbar in AD 1583 is a testimony to the compassion preached by the Jain religion towards every living being.
On seeing Hirvijaysuriji approaching, Emperor Akbar descended from the throne and went to him and bowed to him. His three princes also bowed and paid their respects. In honour of Suriji's arrival, very costly carpets were spread in the royal palace, but Suriji refused to walk on them. Akbar was surprised. Hirvijaysuriji explained that Jain saints were forbidden to walk on land covered with cloth because that might kill the ants and other insects moving under the cloth. Akbar ordered the carpets to be removed and indeed there were many ants and insects underneath.
As Akbar came to know that Suriji had made the journey
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