Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

SR No.: 001743
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 432
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & Literature
File Size: 23 MB

Page 97

SOCIAL LIFE
because of their association with the outcaste people.1 The author has a firm conviction that "the religion (i.e. Church) flourishes by leaving aside the outcastes of society".2
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Besides, like the Buddhist texts, many of the Jaina texts assign a higher status to the Ksatriyas by positioning them first in the order of the four Varnas.3 In the NC., however, the author has described the ladies of the four Aryan Varnas in general conformity to the Brahmaṇical order.*
Brāhmaṇas
(i) Jaina Attitude towards Brahmanas-The Brāhmaṇas werethe highest in order of the four Aryan Varnas. They were respected and even worshipped by the other Varnas. However, being the members of the opponent faith, the Brāhmaṇas were held in contempt by the Jainas," and any contact with them. was barred to a Jaina monk. Very often the Brāhmaṇas were contemptuously called dhijjati, i.e. belonging to a condemned caste, 8 by the Jainas, and rivalry among the two sects. existed to that extent that the Mahanas (Brāhmaṇas) and the Samonas (which also included the Niggaṇṭhas) could never be seen as going out physically together." But like the Brahmapical texts which claim undisputed authority for the Brahmapas, the information provided by the Jaina texts cannot be taken as reliable. However, it indeed shows that at least among a section of society the authority of the Brahmaṇas did.
1. अभोज्जसंपक्कं कश्चित् प्रव्रजतीति एवं परिहाणी, अभोज्जेसु भक्तादिग्गहणं दृष्ट्वा धर्माभिमुखा पूर्वप्रतिपन्नगा वा विपरिणमते, श्वपाकादिसमाना इति जुगुप्सा – NC. 4.
P. 132.
2. लोगे दुगु छिया जे, ते परिहरतेण तित्थस्स वुड्ढी कता भवति - NC. 2, p. 244.
3. Jinasena, Adipurāṇa, 16. 243; Vimalasūri, Paumacariya, 3. 115.7. 4. तत्थ अदुगुंछिता बंभणी खत्तिया वेसि सुद्दी य - NC 4, p. 50.
5. Belonging to a different sect or religion has been considered to be one basis of untouchability in ancient India-Kane, P. V., History of Dharmasastras, Vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 188.
6. NC. 1, pp. 13, 163; NC. 2, p. 208; NC. 3, pp. 223, 418.
7. एते समणमाहणा परोप्परं विरुद्धा एगतो अडत, ण एते जे वा, ते वा, णूणं एते चोरा चारिया वा कामी वा- -NC. 2, p. 119.