Jaina Community a Social Survey

SR No.: 007019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Popular Book Depot Bombay
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 484
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 97

Sociol Divisions in the Jaina Community
'Disavala' caste according to 1901 census was 971, it fell to 355 in 1911 and by this time it might have possibly ceased to exist. There was Kukekari caste in Berar but now there is not even a single person belonging to that caste. The same is the story of "Bañjārā' caste.29 It seems that this is the reason why many castes mentioned in the lists are not found at present. There are, no doubt, new castes which are not found in the lists mentioned above and their rise in recent times is explained by the fact that as the practice of re-admitting ex-communicated members into the caste after some sort of fine or penance has fallen into disuse, such out-cast persons, finding no other way, join together and form into a separate group." Ladava or Pancha Śrīmālis, Chau Sake Paravaras are instances in point.
30
71
"
Fourthly, along with the decline of population of Jaina castes we find the assimilation of one caste into another. Various causes can be attributed to the assimilation of one caste into another but the main reason seems to be to save the persons of declining castes from joining another religion. The present Athasake Paravara caste might be a combination of two castes, viz., Ashta-Sākhā and Paravara. The Ashta-Sakha caste is not existing at present but there are historical evidences which go to show the prior existence of that caste. It is likely that for some reason both the castes might have mixed together and formed a new caste of AshtaSakha Paravāra. 31 In the year 1906 of Vikrama Era the Simhapura caste was incorporated into the Narasimhapura caste.32 Seeing the declining population of " Bījavargi caste, the Khandelavālas their incorporated them into own caste. At times non-Jainas were converted to Jainism and assimilated into another caste. When members of Padmavati Poravala? caste found that Vaishnava Brahmins were not ready to perform their marriage rites, they converted Gauda Brahmins to Jainism and maintained close relationships with them, by resorting to inter-dining and inter-marrying with them. Recently there was a proposal of incorporating Buḍhela' caste into 'Padmavati Poravāla caste. Some scholars think that in the social history of the Jaina community But there might have been many instances of such assimilation.33 at present the assimilation is not resorted to. On the contrary any such proposal is resented. The move of assimilating Pañchabisās into Golalares was turned down.34
even
,
6
99