________________
Impact of Vedic Tradition on Jainism
71
person of low caste. Also Sūdras were not allowed entry into a Jain temple. In one of the sects of Svetāmbara tradition, it became a practice that an Oswal alone should be ordained as a monk, and in another sect of this tradition, the idea of giving the post of ācārya only to a monk of the Bisā Oswal community originated.
Though in olden times people from all four varņas and castes were fully accepted and were entitled to worship in temples, observe the vows of the householder and the vows of the monks and were even considered capable of attaining the highest state of Nirvāņa. In the 7th - git century AD, Jinasena for the first time declared Sūdras as unworthy for monkhood and for attainment of liberation. The Svetāmbara canons however, do not forbid initiation of Sūdras into the Order. The Sthānānga-sūtra only prohibits the initiation of sick, mentally deranged and eunuchs etc. into the Order. But later on, even low-castes such as cāņdālas and professionals such as butchers etc were prohibited from initiation into the Order: But this is only the influence of the powerful Hindu tradition and was clearly against the main principles of Jaina tradition. Jainas gave recognition to this only to maintain their social status and dignity, though the Agamas mention many cases of Cāņdālas such as Harikeśabala,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
