RT Article
T1 Karman and Compassion: Animals in the Jain Universal History
JF Religions of South Asia
VO 7
IS 1/3
SP 141
OP 157
A1 De Clercq, Eva
LA English
PB Equinox
YR 2013
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1774723719
AB As a religious tradition which largely defines itself by its propagation of non-violence (ahimsa) and respect for all living beings, Jainism gives particular attention to the wellbeing of animals, for example, in the prescription of a strict (lacto-)vegetarian diet, in advocating animal rights and the sponsorship of animal shelters. Against this background, this article examines the presence of animals and other non-human beings in Jaina mythology, more precisely the so-called Jaina Universal History. This Universal History in practice consists of the biographies (caritra or purana) of 63 heroes (salaka- or maha-purusas), many of whom have parallels in broader South Asian epic, puranic or narrative traditions. This article introduces the various ways animals are dealt with in these Jaina puranic narratives, and will focus in particular on their symbolic value as representatives of human heroes.
K1 Jain Universal History
K1 Jainism
K1 Animals
K1 Devotion
K1 Dharma
K1 Karma
K1 Myth
K1 non-violence (ahiṃsā)
K1 religion and nature
DO 10.1558/rosa.v7i1-3.141