From Holy City to Holy Earth: Acharya Udayvallabh Maharaj (vegetarian) with Palitana's Animal-People Meat Ban, Part 1 of 2

The city of Palitana is a sacred pilgrimage site in the Indian state of Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, often called the “Jain Temple Town.” Situated at the base of the Shatrunjaya Hills, it is home to more than 800 intricately carved Jain temples, including the iconic Adinath Temple. As one of Jainism’s holiest sites, Palitana attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, making the preservation of its sanctity a matter of utmost importance to the Jain community.

In 2014, legislation banning the slaughter of animal-people as well as sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food – including animal-people meat and eggs – came into effect in Palitana. This historic decision was prompted by sustained protests and a pivotal hunger strike led by Jain monks that same year, which placed significant pressure on local authorities. Palitana thus became the world’s first legally vegetarian city.

In recognition of this wise and compassionate governance, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) presented the city of Palitana with the Shining World Hero, Shining World Compassion, Shining World Leadership, and Shining World First Total Vegetarian City Awards, offering Her highest salute, best wishes, and sincerest praise.

We are honored to meet Jainacharya Shri Uday Vallabh Suriji (vegetarian), a renowned Jain monk celebrated for sharing the transformative teachings of Jainism and spiritually guiding youth through his popular “Perfecting Youth Session (PYS)” platform. He is also influential in local policy discussions. Today, we speak with him about Jain principles for protecting holy cities.

Acharya Udayvallabh Maharaj explains that restrictions on harmful substances have long been enforced at sacred sites around the world. He notes that Jainism is neither the first nor the only spiritual tradition to adopt such protective measures.

First of all, I would like to share some things available as evidence all over the world. Several countries and religious administrations worldwide have enforced strict bans on meat, alcohol, tobacco, (and) smoking to preserve the spiritual sanctity of holy cities. These bans are often rooted in theological concepts of non-violence and mindfulness, especially purity, not just of the temple, but the entire surrounding environment has to be in coordination with that temple environment. We can start from the Vatican for the Christians. In July 2002, Pope John Paul II signed a law, making the Vatican one of the first places to implement a strict smoking ban in all its closed off public places and workplaces. Next, we can see what happened in Saudi (Arabia) – Mecca, (and) Medina – for Muslims. (In) 2002, the Saudi Ministry of Health, supported by the WHO (World Health Organization), launched the Tobacco-free Mecca (and) Medina initiative. We can see in Ayodhya Ram Mandir in Hindu temples also – even in Haridwar and Rishikesh, they put a ban on meat and alcohol – a complete municipal ban. Amritsar, which represents Sikhism – (banned) tobacco, meat, and alcohol around the Golden Temple. For Palitana, the most sacred place of the Jains – a temple city we know – there was a need to enact such a law, so the Palitana Municipal Corporation passed a resolution.

In Jainism, killing is strictly forbidden in all circumstances: whether for food, personal convenience– such as abortion – or even national interests – such as war.

Taking someone’s life is regarded as “jeeva adatta,” which amounts to a form of theft. That is, if I take someone’s life without their permission, then I violate the vow of non-stealing. When a person becomes selfish, they will only think of themselves and not of others. Then the other elements – be it earth, water, fire, air, or the forests – also will not care for humanity. I cannot even continue surviving without being nonviolent, because the destruction of any living being, or any animal, is the first step towards my own destruction.

Due to ignorance, humanity often fails to realize that our ancestors may already have set in motion the seeds of our own self-destruction. It is time for reflection and repentance.