“Nana jeevi ni raksha” (નાના જીવની રક્ષા) translates to “protection of small living beings” in Gujarati.

In Jainism, the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) extends to all living beings, including the tiniest forms of life such as insects, microorganisms, and plants. Jains believe that every soul, regardless of its size or form, deserves compassion and should not be harmed unnecessarily.

Practices for protecting small beings include:

• Sweeping the ground gently before walking to avoid stepping on insects.
• Filtering water before drinking to remove minute living organisms.
• Avoiding eating root vegetables because uprooting them kills many small organisms living in the soil and the plant itself.
• Practicing vegetarianism and, in some sects, veganism, to minimize harm to animals.

The concept emphasizes mindfulness in daily actions to prevent harm to even the smallest creatures, reflecting deep reverence for all life as taught in Jain philosophy.