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I am the Soul
603 like Gautam, a Kshatriya like Abhaykumar, a Vaishya like Jambu or a Chandal like Harikeshi.
The label of caste applies to the body. Atma is of no caste. A jiva being born as a human will invariably have to be born into some family. The arrangement of castes and creeds is simply societal. It may even be unavoidable so as to keep the society coherent and organised. Yet this arrangement does not ever become a hindrance to the pursuit of atma. One whose inner sight is awakened goes on to realise the atma, although that one may well be from a so-called lower caste from the viewpoint of a society.
The great sages who bring along the noble influences of the previous births, may well be born into any caste or any religion, yet their noble influences do not remain hidden. And they realise the atma.
If we were to consider the scriptures, the Prabhu has indicated that Siddhas are of fifteen types -
1. Tirthasiddha - Those who attained moksa after
establishing the Tirthankar tirtha, like Gandhar etc. 2. Atirthasiddha - Those who attained moksa before the
Tirtha was established – like Marudevi Mata etc. 3. Tirthankar Siddha - Those who attained moksa after
attaining the title of Tirthankar, i.e. Rishabhdeva and
other Tirthankars. 4. Atirthankar Siddha - Those who attained moksa without
attaining the title of Tirthankar, but merely are Kevalis. 5. Pratyekabuddha Siddha - Those who attained moksa
upon enlightenment after seeing some matter and following the right conduct on their own, like Karkandu
etc.
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