to hindus: non-violence (ahisma) isnt really a part of hindu dharma?

Question

there is no mention of ahisma in the vedas and other major scriptures, including the gita.
and no hindu rajas in the past pratcied ahisma (eg prithvi raj chauhan)
the only mention of non-violence in in buddhist/jain scriptures, it was then adapted by gandhi, who use it for the hindu religion.

so i dont think ahisma should really be a part of hindu dhurma, since it wasnt mentioned once in VEDIC scriptures.
what are you opinions on this?

Answer 1

Dear Friend, Non-Violence or Ahimsa is always a part of Hindu scriptures...but at the same time, you need to know when even Himsa (Violence) is also a form of Ahimsa..!!

HINDU SCRIPTURES ON AHIMSA (Non-violence)

Let us first look at what scriptures say about ahimsa :

Mahabharat says :
Ahimsaa paramo dharmaah: (Mahabharat - Aadi Parva - 11.13)

Meaning - Ahimsa (non-injury) is the ultimate dharma (duty).

Manusmruti considers ahimsa foremost amongst the 5 restraints (yama) necessary in PERSONAL behavior. The other 4 being truthfulness (satyam), nonstealing or not coveting (asteyam), purity of mind and body (shoucham) and control of senses (indriyanigraha), which are described below:

Ahimsa satyam-asteyam shoucham-indriyanigraha (Mausmruti - 10.63)

Bhagavad Gita includes Ahimsa in the twenty virtues necessary for attaining Dnyana (knowledge (of Self)). The shloka (verse) is as follows :

amaanitvam-adambhitvam-ahimsaa kshaanti-aarjavam
aacharya-upaasanaam-shoucham sthairyam aatma-vinigraham (Gita 13.7)

Thus non-injury to others (physical or mental) is prescribed as virtue in PERSONAL conduct.

AHIMSA AND PRESERVATION OF SOCIETY & RIGHTEOUSNESS

The shloka from Gita (13.7) calling Ahimsa a divine virtue may appear contradictory to the overall message of Gita in the context of the Mahabharat war wherein Bhagawan Krishna repeatedly asks Arjun to fight the righteous war (Tasmat yuddhasya Bharat!). Is Gita against Ahimsa ?

Also is Gita, the heart of the epic Mahabharat, against the teaching of 'ahimsaa paramo dharmah:'?

Both these questions can be answered by one word 'NO'. As the HINDU SCRIPTURES CONSIDER UNAVOIDABLE VIOLENCE (HIMSA) RELUCTANTLY UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A RULE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
(DHARMA SANSTHAAPANA) FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY AND FOR SUSTENANCE OF ONE'S BODY AS JUSTIFIABLE AND CALL IT AS AHIMSA ALSO.

Even Manusmruti says :

Aatatayinaa mayaantam hanyaadevavichaaryan (Manusmruti 8.350)

Meaning - A wicked, evil aggressor should be killed without any
hesitation.

In fact in Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan Krishna promises -

'paritraNaaya saadhunaam vinaashaayacha dushkrutaam
dharma sansthaapanaarthaya sambhavaami yuge yuge (Gita 4.8) Meaning - For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of dharma, I am born age after age.

Thus real Hindu view considers destruction of wicked as Ahimsa also. It is also more than a coincidence that all Hindu divine images are bearing arms. Even Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Bhavani, Kali carry weapons and are immortalized in the stories of their destruction of the wicked. Even now during the Dasshera festival Hindus perform puja of their weapons. This tradition is followed even in the Indian and Nepali armed forces, particularly in the Gorkha regiments. Thus bearing arms and destroying the wicked are considered necessary for the preservation of society and are considered as Ahimsa.

In the present day context, the fight against historical injustice
against Hindus and the Hindu way of life, must be considered as Ahimsa also. Because fighting for justice is a Hindu's righteous duty (dharma).

I hope I have been able to clear your confusion...

Answer 2

Sorry, but it seems as though u have got some wrong info. Ahmisa is a very essential part of Hinduism. As far as I remember there is mention of ahimsa as early as in the upanishads and even in the Bhagavad Gita. You seem to be well versed with hinduism and its scriptures hence I don't need to elaborate on the concept of moksha and the ways to achieve it. As u must be aware Raja Yoga is one of the ways to achieve it. There are 8 limbs in Raja Yoga: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi respectively.

Ahimsa is mentioned as the FIRST Yama.

Hinduism states that "Ahimsa Parmo Dharma" or Ahimsa is the highest form of dharma (virtue). Manusmriti says that Ahimsa is the foremost restraint necessary in personal behaviour.

Bhagavad Gita includes Ahimsa in the twenty virtues necessary for attaining Dnyana (knowledge of Self). The sloka is :

amanitvam adambhitvam
AHIMSA ksantir arjavam
acaryopasanam saucam
sthairyam atma-vinigrahah..............


Ahimsa for the purpose of establishing a rule of righteousness (dharma sthaapna) for the betterment of society and for sustenance of ones body is justifiable. As was the case in Mahabharata where Arjun was fighting for upholding dharma. Sri Krishna defines dharma as "Dharma holds the society together and that which supports the social structure (balance) must be definitely considered as dharma."
The manusmriti too states that a wicked evil aggressor (for eg. like Ravana, Kansa, and later on the invading forces in India) should not be spared.

Lord Krishna states that For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of dharma, I am born age after age.

Thus bearing arms and destroying the wicked are necessary for the preservation of society and could be considered as Ahimsa.

Answer 3

I have heard that the dictum'Ahimsa Paramo Dharmaha' (Non violence is the supreme Dharma).occurs in the Vedas.

Answer 4

in hindu dharma their are two things 1. dharma (right wrong) and 2. adharma (wrong karma) .whenever adharma takes place , it is our duty to demolish the adharma , and to demolish the adharma their are two paths 1 hinsa 2 ahinsa . for example when lankapati ravan kidnaps sita mata then prabhu shiramji sends their messages to ravan to not to fight and bring them sita maa back , but he did'nt . then ahinsak path tooked by prabhu shriramji to protect dharma . eve mahatma gandhi also practiced ahinsa.

Answer 5

bro in the previous answering this question enable me ask u one question have you ever in my view examine each and every of the HINDU besides as BUDDHIST scriptures??? and how you've spelled "Ahisma" isn't precise it is "Ahinsa". So i ought to signify you to bypass examine each and every of the scriptures of both faith and than ask your question. And if some different person has advised u this bypass ask him the same question that I requested you. peace