If we talk about the teachings and philosophy of Mahavir's we will see
that it is the spiritual power and moral grandeur of his teachings,
which impressed the masses. He made religion simple and natural, free
from elaborate ritual complexities. His teachings reflected the popular
impulse towards internal beauty and harmony of the soul. He did not
believed in grandeur and elaborate rituals. According to Mahavir,
attachment to material objects is the primary cause of bondage and is
also the cause for greed and jealousy. Jainism denies the existence of
God as the creator, sustainer, and the moral governor of the world.
According to the Jain dharma, the goal of life is to attain liberation.
The Jain scripture, Jain Agamas Siddhantas, preaches the doctrine of
Ahimsa or non-violence. According to this doctrine, all objects have a
soul, and should not be hurt or killed. His main teachings involves that
it was the greatest sin to cause injury to creatures, and that it was
the greatest virtue to renounce worldly possessions and practice strict
asceticism. Orthodox Jains could not even take to farming, because it
involved tilling which killed earthworms. His message of nonviolence
(Ahimsa), truth (Satya), non-stealing (Achaurya), celibacy
(Brahma-charya), and non-possession (Aparigraha) is full of universal
compassion.
Mahavir was quite successful in eradicating from human intellect the
conception of God as creator, protector, and destroyer. He also
denounced the worship of gods and goddesses as a means of salvation. He
taught the idea of supremacy of human life and stressed the importance
of the positive attitude of life.
Lord Mahavir also preached the gospel of universal love, emphasizing
that all living beings, irrespective of their size, shape, and form how
spiritually developed or under-developed, are equal and we should love
and respect them. The prayer of Jain Religion is as follows:
Every day Jains bow their heads and say their universal prayer, the
Navkar-mantra. All good work and events start with this prayer of
salutation and worship.
