Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Bhagavan Mahāvira
Stress on Inwardness
A widespread prevalence of rites and rituals had made the people extrovert even in matters of ethical values. In order to bring about a revolutionary change, Bhagawān Mahāvīra asked the people to give importance to inwardness. It was a common belief among the people that one became a Sramaņa by simply shaving the head, a Brāhamana by merely repeating the sound of Omkāra, a muni by merely living in the forests and a tripasvi (hermit) by putting on clothes made of the barks of trees. Bhagawan Mahāvira did not challenge the existence of the institutions of the Sramanas, Brāhmaṇas, munis and tapasvīs. He, however, did not accept their norms. He insisted on their recognition through their internal qualities. He inaintained that one could not become a Sramaņa simply by shaving his head, and that one did not become a Brāhmaṇa simply by repeating the sound of Omkāra. Similarly, in his view, nobody became a muni simply by living in the forest nor could one become a tapasvī simply by putting on cloth made of the bark of trees. He insisted on the practice of equanimity, celebacy, knowledge and penance. A Sramaņa must practise samatā equanimity, a Brāhmaṇa brahmacharya--celebacy, a muni must seek after knowledge (moņa) and a tapasvī must observe austerities. Equality of Human Beings
Bhagavān Mahāvīra rejected casteism as an arbitrary doctrine. He stressed the fact that one could be called a Brāhmaṇa, a Kșatriya, a Vaiśya or Sūdra oply on the basis of his conduct. The Varņa organization had been made by men. It could not be accepted as made by God. The Soul itself is the Perfect Soul
Man is the maker of his own fate. He is the author of his own happiness and misery. There does not exist any external agency as God which governs man's actions. The