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Spiritual Pursuit Outside the Order
Lord Mahavira was a tirthankar Tirthankar is one who realises truth and also propounds it The contemporary Indian religion evinced two traits the one prescribed by scriptures and the other by tirthankaras
The Mimansa system argued that a physically embodied being cannot be free from passion and attachment One who Is not dispassionate and unattached cannot be omniscient The religious texts written by one who has not transcended passion and attachment do not bear the imprint of authority and testimony Hence the Mimansakas rejected man-made works as testimony They held Vedas alone in this elevated category believing them to be God-ordained
The shramana philosophy held that sastras or scriptures are composed of letters and hence they are the creation of none but man. Man can look forward to become dispassionate and unattached by means of spiritual practice Such a dispassionate and unattached being attains enlightenment An enlightened being utters what bear the sanction of a testimony
Buddhist literature enumerates Mahavira Ajitkeshambali, Prabhudhakatyayana Gausiak, Sanjaya Velatthiputra and Purankasyapa as tirthankaras Buddha was also a tirthankar. Shankaracharya recognises Kapil and Kanad also as tirthankaras1
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"Brahmasuta' 2-1-3--Shankar's Commentary
