Jainism is often considered as an "other worldly" religion which puts great emphasis on asceticism and salvation. This is particularly thought so about Digambar Jainism. However, asceticism in Shvetambar as well as Digambar Jainism is only one side of the proverbial coin-the other being the fact that Jainism equally emphasizes the "in worldly" things, the individual wellbeing and human welfare in society. The Jain religious values and ethics, specially ahimsa and aparigraha and the philosophical doctrines of Karma, anekantvaad and syadvaad are all geared to a better social as well as individual life. This book on Jainism and social consciousness is illustrative of this reality. It is mainly due to this social consciousness inherent in Jainism that the Jains have been able to contribute immensely to the richness of Indian economic, cultural and social life over the millennia.