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CHAPTER XI
Significance of Jainism
From the social history of India it is evident that Tirthankara Mahavira, in order to solve the pressing problems of the time, made several important salient contributions from a social point of view. It has been recorded that Tīrthankara Mahāvīra, after the attainment of ominiscience at the age of forty-two, toured different parts of India for a continuous period of thirty years, met people from various urban, rural and tribal societies, and preached the principles and rules of conduct as laid down by Jainism. The personality and preachings of Tīrthankara Mahāvīra created a tremendous impact on the minds of all sections of people and especially on the down-trodden sections of the population. He not only revealed to them the path of liberation, i.e., the path to attain the eternal happiness, which was the main object of the people, but also showed the actual means through which all people, irrespective of any distinction of class or status, can achieve this objective. His sincerity of purpose, way of approach, method of explanation, divine speech and distinctive philosophical and ethical doctrines appealed to the people to such an extent that with a firm conviction of mind and great determination people began to adopt Jaina religion as lay followers or as ascetics.
In this way Tīrthankara Mahāvīra ushered in a new era of hope and aspirations for the common people and succeeded in considerably other arrangements for the perpetuation of his social order, various new concepts and ideas which revolutionised the entire course of life of the people. The significance of Tirthankara Mahāvīra lies in successfully effecting a social change and in making institutional and
