The vow of Ahimsa

Ahimsa, i.e. avoidance of Himsa, has been treated as the first of the five Mahavratas, i.e., great vows, prescribed by Jain religion.

Ahimsa can be observed in full in the following 9 ways :

1. Mentally not to do injury oneself,

2. Mentally not to get injury done by others,

3. Mentally not to approve injury done by others,

4. Orally not to do injury oneself,

5. Orally not to get injury done by others,

6. Orally not to approve injury done by others,

7. Physically not to do injury oneself,

8. Physically not to get injury done by others, and

9. Physically not to approve injury done by others.