Jain Legend Vol 1

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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Conditions of common People, knowledge of the Arts and
Crafts and people's welfare
King V abhan tha also introduced common people to various beneficial activities as a leader and elder of the state. His status then was the equivalent of a householder's. So, even if he understood the ignoble aspects of (material) possession, he had not yet sacrificed it. He taught asi, masi and k i to the human society, thus saving them from consuming the inedible / inconsumable, leading a s tvika (pure) life and explained to them that if necessity led them to take up a faulty vocation, in that case, knowing it to be sin, their aim should be to move towards a virtuous life – this was indeed samyakdar ana (right view of reality / true spiritual path).
This way, teaching them the art of leading a happy life at the onset of the karmayuga (epoch of action) he saved humankind from straying. This is his great favour to humankind. For the welfare of humanity he taught 72 skills / crafts to men through his sons. At the same time, he considered it important for women to be useful and endowed with education. Through his daughter Br hm he gave the knowledge of writing and alongside, he also taught the 64 useful womanly skills.
Establishing of the caste system by Lord V abhan tha
First and foremost, by inculcating in people the feeling of mutual coexistence, cooperation, compassion, tolerance, security, cordiality and camaraderie, Lord V abhan tha gave birth to a feeling of brotherhood among people. According to the gu a-karmas (determining the quality of their vocation) he stratified castes, not by giving importance to birth and explaining to people to behave with others lovingly, by doing their own work and not showing contempt towards anyone. Prior to Lord din tha there was no caste system in India. People had just one caste / racehumanity without any hierarchy. Every person was equal in strength, intellect and wealth. Everyone was content with and loved what they had. When disparity increased among people and greed and attachment spread, Lord V abhan tha created the caste system. He laid the foundation of a social order suitable in all respects, teaching men a lesson in co-existence, in order to lead a beautiful, happy and peaceful life. People who were physically very strong and powerful were
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