I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 72

I AM MAHĀVĪRA
16
MY CONTEMPORARIES
The world is the birthplace of many great saints and people
in different places and times. They help people to move on the path
of righteousness. They also teach people that they should not follow the path of sin and wrongful acts. My monk disciples have informed me that currently there are three hundred sixty three
doctrines. These have been propounded by many great men of the past and present. I have tried to study them. I found that they could
be classified under some groups.
I have taught people to follow the path of relativism rather than absolutism. On this ground, almost all the current doctrines
are mostly absolutistic and, therefore, not worth following in Toto. I have tried my best that the people should know the defects of absolutism and move towards relativistic attitudes in their lives.
Among others, there were some eight great men in my period who have taught different types of doctrines on religion and the phenomena of the world. They had good influence on the public. They were also highly respected for their ascetic life and principles they propounded. I will try to narrate their lives in brief.