Book Title: Bharatvarsh ka Itihas aur Jain Dharm
Author(s): Bhagmalla Jain
Publisher: Shree Sangh Patna

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Page 35
________________ ( PE ) birth he was well received by the ruling Kings of these countries. This made it easier for him to win converts to his religion. His religious order consisted of monks and nuns, besides laybrothers and lay sisters who waited upon them. He did not believe in God, and he rejected the idea that only men and animals had souls. According to him, even trees, stones, air and water were capable of feeling and were affected by pain and pleasure like living creatures. The main teaching of Jainism is the doctrine of Ahinsa, that is, to do no hurt to any kind of life. The belief that even lifeless objects possess souls makes the Jains even more careful about the protection of life than the Buddhists. The Jains are not supposed to believe in caste, but in modern times we find them as particular about it as any other Hindus. They are divided into two sects, the Svetambara, (.r white robed, and the Digambara, or naked. Both the sects have their own sacred books and are on very bad terms with each other. In course of time they have begun to worship the images of their twelve Ginnas ( leaders ), though

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