I found it fascinating when I was living in Mumbai for a few month about how the Jainas believe in the transmigration of souls. They believe that if they kill an animal or insect is killing a life of an ancestor. Not only to they have hospitals for old and maimed animals in every town I visited, but there are priests that go around with a mask covering their noses and mouths so they don’t breath in and kill even the smallest of living creatures.
There was a Panjrapol, not too far from the Five Star Hotel India where I was staying, so I got do delve into this Jainas society a little bit more. The Panjrapol takes up a quarter of a reserve and is separated into yards, meadows, groves with ponds, cages for beasts of prey and enclosures for the tame animals. The institution almost appeared to be a Noah’s Ark. I got to watch while veterinarians were constantly in attendance and were busily bandaging a broken paw or pouring ointment on a mangy dog, fitting wooden crutches to a lame stork. In contrast, just outside of the Panjrapol there are starving old men, women and children. I will never understand India, but then I believe I’m not supposed to.
It was interesting to note that all the carnivorous animals, like the jackals, wolves, tigers and hyenas are forced to only eat a vegetarian diet. The herbivores surely don’t mind, but the carnivores are obliged to fast along with the Janis. I watched a bullet wounded tiger sniff at a rice soup offered to him and he lashed his tail, snarling and showing his teeth and with a dull roar turned away from the unusual food. He looked at his keepers, I’m sure wishing he could eat them.
What was most unusual, and a great example of just how far the Janis belief goes, I watched a holy man who was sitting in a corner and allowed what ever insect to feed upon his body. He was entirely naked and lay motionless with his eyes shut. He was literally covered with mosquitoes, ants, flies and other sorted bugs. Again, I will never understand India. But, I will never forget her.
