Shivani Bothra
In the past few decades, there has been a growing interest in Jainism as a significant area of study in religious academic discipline. Some texts of world religions which in the past only covered Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have now added Jainism as a world religion, because of its global spread as well as its great influence on other major religions, especially Asian religions. As a result, there is a growing body of scholarly research conducted in this field by both Indian and Western scholars. Most of the works have investigated the core doctrines, the doctrinal differences between Jain sects, Jain logic, Jain art, Jain law, and women in Jainism often through a multi-disciplinary lens. Contemporary scholars have conducted ethnographic studies on rituals and worship among Jains in India. However, until now, the Anuvrat Movement within Jainism has been neglected in modern scholarship.
The study of the Anuvrat Movement is also a study of the impact made by one monk, a leader considered by many to have demonstrated great courage, wisdom and compassion, even in difficult adverse situations. The study of the Anuvrat Movement could be helpful within Jainism itself for a reevaluation of the movement and its strategies and could also assist in answering an important question within the larger field of religion and spirituality: How do people who profess specific moral principles actually act and how do they reinterpret vows over time? The study also explores the social significance of the concepts of nonviolence, social justice and sustainability in the wider global community.
