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The Relevance of Teachings of Lord Mahavira
Philosophical:
Mahavira prescribed certain rules of conduct and changes in the social order. To him not the birth but the deeds or karma snould decide the cast or 'varna'. This was a very revolutionary idea regarding one's cast or creed or status. He also believed in equality of men and women and so he allowed women also to enter into the samgha. He organized the Jain community into four groups: Sravakas, Sravikas (lay men and lay women), Sadhu and Sadhavis (monks and nuns). Thus women were considered equal to men in all regards including spiritual upliftment. Apart from metaphysical and ethical teachings, Mahavir's philosophical teachings also include the Nayavada, Syadavāda, Anekanta and the doctrine of Karma. All these, though highly subtle and highly difficult in understanding, Mahavira made them simpler by relating them all to morality, purity, equality and mutual co-existence. He said "Live and Let Live".
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The beauty of Mahavira's teachings lies in its direct appeal as it is related to life and its liberation. He takes an integral view of life and does not compartmentalize. According to him combination of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct is the path to liberation. Lords Mahavira says, "By knowledge one understands the nature of Substances, by faith one believes in them, by conduct one puts an end to the flow of Karmas and by austerity one attains purity" 13.
We know every teaching and every lesson taught by Mahavira was of great importance. But what was the most important to Mahavira himself? The cardinal doctrine on which the edifice of Jainism rests from times immemorial is Ahimsa or nonviolence. In 'Prashna -Vyakarana, it has been called Bhagavati. Mahavira called Ahimsa, Bhagvati Ahimsa or Goddess Ahimsa.
Mahavira's teachings brought great revolutionary, positive and commanding changes. Dr. S. B. Deo in evaluating Lord Mahavira, writes, "It is well over two and a half thousand years that the
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