The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

reincarnation (samsara). Prakrti evolves

first into mahat(“the great one”) and

then into ahamkar, which is the

first stage in which there is a sense

of self and subjectivity. This

sense of subjectivity colors the entire

devolution after that. Ahamkar

then evolves further, forming the

basis for both the subjective and

objectice world: on one hand, the

individual’s organs of sense

(jnanendriya) and organs of action

(karmendriya) develop, and on the

other hand, the five subtle

elements (tanmatras), which are

the basis of the gross material

elements, evolve. In colloquial speech,

ahamkaris used to mean “self-pride,”

invariably in a pejorative sense.

Ahimsa

(“refraining from harm”) Ahimsa refers

to the conscious commitment to

refrain from harming other living

beings, either directly or indirectly. The

emphasis on ahimsa originated with

the Jains, for whom all actions carry

karmic consequences, but who also

believe that the karmic consequences

generated by intentional evil acts are

far more severe than those from unin-

tentional ones. Jain and Buddhist com-

mitment to ahimsa brought it further

into Indian society, and it has been an

important feature of Hindu practice for

well over two thousand years. In the

Yoga Sutras, Patanjalimentions ahim-

sa as one of the restraints (yama) and

thus recommends it as one of the basic

foundations for religious life. This

commitment to ahimsa is believed to

be one of the major forces responsible

for the decline of animal sacrifice,

which was one of the most important

types of religious practice as described

in the Vedas, the oldest Hindu scrip-

tures. Far more recently, in the twenti-

eth century, ahimsa was one of the

guiding principles of Mohandas

Gandhiduring the struggle for Indian

independence. Although Gandhi did

not rule out the use of violence in prin-

ciple, his commitment to ahimsa

reflected his judgment that means and

ends are karmically linked, and that

the means one employs will determine

both the nature and tone of one’s ends.

See also karma.

Ahimsa

Temple to the goddess Durga in the city of Aihole.