Jain Journal 1973 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 29

JAIN JOURNAL
formed by them. They were Manu because they knew and taught the people the means of their livelihood ; Kulakara because they taught the Aryas how to live together ; Kuladharas because they established their famities; and Yugadhipuras because they were the embodiments of the age-cycles.
The first Kulakara explained that the light of the kalpabrk şas or wishing-trees was fading away, and that the planets had, therefore become visible. There was no cause of fright among men. At this the felt profusely re-assured, and thinking and praising him, in accordance with his wishes, returned to their homes. But the countless aeons rolled on, and other and more profound and more alarming changes came into view. The stars appeared in the heavens, and the mountains and rivers became visible on earth. Animals which till now had remained docile, became more ferocious. The innocent people were then siezed with fear at the growing sense of insecurity around them. At this stage there appeared the other patriarchs who taught men how to adopt themselves to the changing environment. These new teachers told men how to protect themselves from ferocious brutes, how to tame and break elephants, horses, and other animals, how to climb mountains, and how to cross rivers by means of canoes. In the meanwhile the kalpabīksas were slowly but surely declining in number. Over the remaining kalpabykşas the men, who had now become selfish, began to quarrel with ever-increasing ferocity.
With the fifth patriarch order came out of chaos. The fifth Kulakara was Simankakra, who marked the wish-giving trees and fixed their boundaries. His successor Simandhara demarcated the dwindling kalpabrkşas still more clearly. During the age of the fourteenth patriarch Nabhi, the kalpabykșas altogether disappeared. Clouds and rain came for the first time, and the earth began to shoot forth ordinary trees, herbs and fruits. The people approached Nabhi, and enquired of him as to what they were like-beneficial or injurious. That patriarch gave them a long discourse along with a demonstration. He taught them the art of cooking the products of the earth but warned them against the poisonous plants. This brought about a complete transformation in the life of man.
It was left to the last Patriarch Rsabhadeva to establish the six occupations relating to the martial, agricultural, literary, artistic, commercial, and industrial aspects of nian's life. He instituted the three castes of the Kşatriyas, the Vaisayas, and the Sudras. In each caste were men who were best fitted to fulfil the object of that particular caste.