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SUPREME TENDERNESS OR HUMILITY (Uttama Mardava Dhama)
Compassion or supreme tenderness (Uttam Mardav) gets the second place amidst the ten tenets of Jainism. In the book 'Sarvartha Siddhi' the reverend Acharya Pujya Pad Swamy tells the meaning of compassion (Mardav);
"Mridorbhavi mardvam"
The feeling of humility or tenderness is compassion. In the sixth verse of the ninth chapter of this book compassion (Mardav) is explained to mean:
"Jatyadimadaveshadbhimanabhavo mardavam"
I.e., Absence of pride, born out of the arrogant feeling or boast of ancestry, clan and tribe etc.
Compassion (Mardava) means to put an end to vanity or egotism. The foundation of compassion is tenderness or humility. It is an inherent trait of the soul. Telling humility the root of religion in 'Bodh Pahud' Acharya Shri Kundkund Swamy states' dhamo dyavisidho' i.e. "Religion means to be adorned with pity'. In 'Rayansar' the same has been stated thus; 'Dyai sadhamo' i.e., Mercy is the true religion'. Just as the construction of a building in the absence of a foundation, the existence of a tree in the absence of roots, the rainfall in the absence of clouds is impossible. Likewise birth of the virtue of compassion (Mardava Dharma) and Right Belief (Samyak Darshan) is impossible for want of humility. The attainment of salvation (Moksha) lies in humility or compassion.
Where there are no gentle thoughts, no polite temperament, no humility; it is all futile to go on a pilgrimage, observing vows, taking holy pledges and performing meditation; for these cannot remain stable in a being lacking in compassion i.e., in one who is not free from pride and prejudice. In order to achieve the superb virtue of compassion, it is essential for us to root out pride and prejudice from our heart. Its easiest way is not to be vain.
Once some children were playing 'Gulli-Danda' on the seashore. In this game the players of one team throw the 'Gulli' from a cavity in the ground using a small wooden rod 'Danda' as distant as possible, and the players in the opposite team try to catch hold of the 'Gulli'. The 'gulli' throwing team let off the gulli. When a child, player of the opposite team tried to catch hold of the gulli by jumping; instead he caught hold a crow
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