An Introduction To Mahavira For Children
The Jain religion is not well-known in the United States to either adults or children. Jainism originated in northern India at about the same time as Buddhism. Buddhism spread more widely but Jainism still has ten million followers including a community in the United States with an umbrella organization called JAINA (The Federation of Jain Associations in North America).
JAINA and Wisdom Tales Press, a publisher of children's books with spiritual, cross-cultural themes, have joined together in this beautifully written and illustrated book about the founder of Jainism: "Mahavira: The Hero of Nonviolence". An American practitioner of Jain and a noted physician, Manoj Jain wrote the text. Demi (Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt),an American Buddhist who has written and illustrated many books on spiritual figures including the Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, and the Dalai Lama prepared the illustrations.
The book is written simply and eloquently suitable for children six years of age and older. Because Jainism is unfamiliar to Americans, parents are likely to learn from this book as well. The book offers a brief story of Mahavira, beginning with his birth to a royal family in what is described as "a Faraway Land called India". As a youth, the young man earned the name Mahavira which means "very brave" by showing mercy to a poisonous snake. At the age of 30, Mahavira left the palace to search for the meaning of life. He became a monk and taught for many years. The book emphasizes that Mahavira taught the "three jewels" of Jainism: right faith ("the clean and pure soul is divine in nature"), right knowledge and right conduct. Mahavira also taught three major beliefs: 1. nonviolence or love 2. non-absolutism or pluralism ("the truth has many sides") and 3. non-possessiveness or detachment. These teachings form the heart of this little book and include much material for discussion by both children and adults.
Demi's illustrations are beautiful and sparkling with pictures of ancient Indian palaces in lovely pink stone, dancing girls, fiery snakes, plumaged birds, chariots and of course --- elephants. The pictures will draw young readers into the story.
The book makes an outstanding introduction to an important religion for young readers. The publication by Wisdom Tales Press should allow for a broad distribution of the book. JAINA's announcement for the book indicates that it is intended for young Jain children as well for a broader audience to provide them with their first written exposure to their religion. Children may benefit from the mention and a brief discussion of JAINA to help them understand the nature of religious pluralism in the United States. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this lovely book. Wisdom Tales Press kindly provided me with a review copy.
Robin Friedman
