________________
196
MYTHOLOGY
the offerings of their respective occupations before God, but Abel's offering is approved and not Cain's. Cain thereupon murders Abel, for which he is cursed by God. Seth (the . appointed) was the next son of Adam, and Seth's son was Eos : "then began men to call themselves by the name of the Lord"
(See Marginal Notes to Genesis, iv. 26). (15) Now, Abel is faith which is turned towards
life, while Cain is reason wedded to matter, Hence, is Abel a keeper of sheep (the symbol of Life) and Cain the tiller of soil (=Matter). The offerings of the brothers signify the fruit of their respective occupations, Abel's consisting in the best produc's in the department of Life-gentility of the 'lamb' (uttama arjava = excellent meekness), and the like-and Cain's, of the highest achievements--electric light, aero-plaires, etc. etc.,-of a purely material science. Abel's work is naturally acceptable to God, the Ideal of divine perfection and joy, because uttama asjava etc., are really the first steps on the true "path." But Reason and Faith are incompatible by nature, for the ove is critical and the other dogmatic. For
this reason is Abel murdered by Cain. (16) The curse pronouncert on Cain is also in
keeping with the nature of Reason and, bas been fully explained in the fourth chapter of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
