In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Ahiṃsāvrata (अहिंसाव्रत).—The performer becomes a king; consists in abstention from meat for a year and the gift of a cow at the end.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 101. 35.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

Ahiṃsāvrata (अहिंसाव्रत) refers to “the refusal to kill animals in sacrifice to the gods” and  represents an observance (vrata) laid down for Jain laymen, classified within the aṇuvrata group. The nature of the layman’s ahiṃsa-vrata depends on the distinction between sūkṣma-hiṃsā, the taking of life in any form, abstention from which is obligatory for the ascetic, and sthūla-hiṃsā, the destruction of the higher forms of life from dvīndriyas upwards, which is forbidden to all Jainas. The layman is also enjoined to avoid as far as possible the killing of ekendriyas and the useless destruction of sthāvara-jīvas.

The aticāras of this vrata are given in the same form by Śvetāmbaras and Digambaras:

1. keeping in captivity (bandha);
2. beating (vadha);
3. mutilating (chavi-ccheda);
4. overloading (ati-bhārāropaṇa);
5. depriving of food and drink (bhakta-pāna-vyavaccheda).

The content of the ahiṃsā-vrata is much wider than the aticāras indicate, though many subjects which are treated under this head by early writers are later held to fall within the province of the anartha-daṇḍa-vrata and the bhogopabhoga-vrata.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five Vows

Ahiṃsāvrata (अहिंसाव्रत) refers to the “vow of non-violence” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.4.—What are the contemplations of the vow of non-violence (ahiṃsāvrata)? The two attitudes of restraint (gupti) namely of speech and mind, the three attitudes of carefulness (samiti) namely regulation of movement (īryāsamiti), care in lifting and putting thing (ādāna-nikṣepa) and examining food and drinks (ālokitapāna) are the five contemplations of the vow of non-violence.

What is the benefit of the five contemplations of non-violence vow (ahiṃsā-vrata)? They cause purification of the psychical thoughts and result in innumerably faster dissociation of karmas.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Ahiṃsāvrata (ಅಹಿಂಸಾವ್ರತ):—

1) [noun] practice of non-violence and abstention from harming other living beings.

2) [noun] (Jain.) a religious vow of not harming others.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vrata, Ahimsa.

Full-text: Iryasamiti, Adananikshepa, Bhakta-pana-vyavaccheda, Bhakta-pana-viccheda, Bandha, Gupti, Vadha, Atibhararopana, Alokitapana, Vacanagupti, Chaviccheda, Manogupti, Aparigrahavrata.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Ahimsavrata, Ahiṃsāvrata, Ahimsa-vrata, Ahiṃsā-vrata, Ahimsāvrata; (plurals include: Ahimsavratas, Ahiṃsāvratas, vratas, Ahimsāvratas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)

Verse 7.4 - The observances for the vow of non-injury (ahiṃsā) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]

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Triveni Journal

Mr. Bendre and His Poetry < [March-April 1935]

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The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)

Chapter 20 - The rules of ablution < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

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