Introduction to Jainism

Author(s): Rudi Jansma, Sneh Rani Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
defense. Rishabha too was of necessity a servant of the cyclic law of nature.
Rishabha was the first to describe the caste system, according to Jainism. Like Plato many millennia later, he already categorized human beings into groups or castes on the basis of their natural tendencies and skills. Kings, like himself, defenders of the country and protectors were called warriors (kshatra-dharis, i.e. umbrella-bearers,'8 kshatriyas) – inner as well as outer warriors fighting for the victory of the true and the just were meant. Then there was the commercial sector, and that of the artisans and laborers.'' This division into castes was descriptive and was not determined by birth. That happened when the system became deformed, and this is how it is even practiced today in Hinduism - with so much misery as a result. Rishabha wanted an efficient division of labor based on the capabilities and accomplishments of the people, as this would lead to economic prosperity. He himself taught the use of weapons and the art of war. He was a real kshatriya. He traveled in person to all corners of his kingdom and encouraged the people to engage in trade and commercial activities, and thus the caste of traders, vaisyas, was established. He taught that everyone should devote himself to his or her task according to the qualities of his nature and in service to others. All these people together formed the caste of kśudras, now known as sudras. There was no superiority of one caste over the other. All were equal before the law and for society. According to the Jains the Brahmin cast was only established later.
Thus king Rishabha initiated changes in every field, and made sure that the people were living intelligent and happy lives. He was the first king of the hoary past and was a guide and source of inspiration for his people. He ruled in a just and charitable manner, never felt any evil in his heart for anyone, but, on the contrary, was motivated only by true love and compassion for all. According to the sources we have today, his age was an age of enlightenment, in which humanity was taught arts and sciences for the first time in