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mans. Many monastic orders had risen, during these 3 centuries all of which pro mised to show a truer and easier path to salvation. These monastic orders were not a protest against the caste system but against the exclusive claims made by Brahmans, such as they and they alone can pass through all the four Asramas. The prevalent opinion that they represented a revolt against the tyranny of caste seems to be groundless. Not only were the chains of caste not broken, but caste as existing outside their orders was fully acknowledged, Although admission to these orders was thrown open to all, we find that the first followers of Buddha and Mahavira were taken almost entirely from the higher classes. Jainism and Buddhism, refusing to believe the Vedas to be divine, sought to teach man his independence of Brahmans and Vedas; showing that it was in his own power to work out his salvation. As Mrs. Frederika Macdonald, in her lectures on Budwww.umaragyanbhandar.com
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
