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Jaina Contribution to Indian Society
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Against these glaring practices based on the acceptance of social inequality and on the wide observance of social discrimination, Tīrthankara Mahavira and Jaina Acāryas launched their attack. They recognized the division of society into four classes but based them on the nature of activities carried out by the people and not on the basis of their birth. They gave full freedom to one and all, including women and Śūdras, to observe common religious practices prescribed for all and admitted them into their religious order. In this order those who followed religion as householders were known as Sravakas and Srävikās and those who observed the religion fully by leaving their houses and becoming ascetics were called as Sadhus and Sadhvis.
Thus Mahavira's conception of Varna system produced social impact of great significance. The principle of social equality among the classes was firmly established. This had a very wholesome effect on the conditions of the Śūdras which were very deplorable. Formerly, the Śūdras were completely disregarded in religious matters and several binding restrictions were placed on their movements and ways of living. Tirthankara Mahavira's teachings proved a great solace to the Śūdras as the practices of social discriminations against them were fully banned. This resulted in the rise of social status of the down-trodden people. Obviously there was a distinct change in the social attitude towards the non-Aryans and the common masses. Slowly there was a strong opposition to the continuation of the practice of slavery in any form.
2. Emancipation of Women :
Another contribution of a distinctive nature made by Jaina thinkers in the social field was in the direction of raising the status of women. In the latter part of the Vedic period women had practically been reduced to the status of sūdras. Like the sudras, women were debarred from the right of initiation and investment with the sacred thread. They were considered to have no business with the sacred religious texts. many passages we find that women and sudra were bracketed together. The very sight of women was considered as inauspicious and people were asked to avoid seeing women, sudras, dead bodies, etc. Thus women had practically no place in the religious life of the society and as such she was neglected and degraded by the people.
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This low position of women was definitely changed by Tirthankara Mahavira in many ways. He removed various restrictions imposed on
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