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moving on to salvation from the cycle of life and birth in different life forms and varied experiences of pain and pleasure.
Mahavir also preached equality of all human beings emphasizing action (Karma) and behaviour and not birth as a determining factor for success or superiority. Uttaradhyayana - sutra (25.31) says:
न वि मुंडिएण समणो, न ओंकरेण बंभणों । न मुणी रण्णवासैण, कुसचीरेण न तावसो ॥ समयाए समणो होइ, बंभचेरेण बंभणो । नाणेय य मुणी होइ, तवेणं होइ तावसो ॥
(“A person does not become a monk by mere shaving his head, nor a Brahmin by chanting mantras nora Muni by living in the forest nor a hermit by wearing Kusa grass clothes. One becomes a monk by equanimity, a Brahmin by celibacy, a Muni by knowledge and a hermit by his austerities")
☆ Mahavir's intense devotion, utter tenacity, unbounded enthusiasm, limitless energy, far-reaching scholarship and enlightenment led to the streamlining of Jain religion and its being oriented to emerge as an ethical way of life for all humanity instead of remaining confined within the narrow walls of a religious sect. His sermons were full of deep wisdom, lucid expression and wide ranging inspiration. They gave birth to Jain agams in which Jain religion blossomed forth in its multidimensional form as a spiritual humanistic and compassionate philosophy. Acaranga Sutra, Kalpa Sutra, Samayasar, Avasyaka - Niryukti, Sutra Krtanga Sutra, Bhagwati Sutra, Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Dasuvaikalika Sutra and other Digambar and
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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