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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
from the society mainly falls on the caste Pañchāyatas and with a view to know whether this work is undertaken by the Pañchā vatas or not the question number 27 was asked. From the replies it will be noted that the number of caste Pañchāyatas who have not done anything in the matter appears to be far more than that of caste Pañchāyatas who have tried something in this connection. Only the Visā Hummada Mevādā, Narasingapurā, Budhelā, Golāpūrva, Jaisavāla, Paravāra and Agravāla castes of Digambaras, and the Dasā Srimāli and Mesari Bhāvasāra castes of Svetāṁbaras have made some attempts in this regard and it is reported that the efforts of the big castes like Paravāra and Agravāla were not successful. This means that broadly the Pañchāyatas of small castes alone are active in this field. The names of castes of all sects which did not strive in this direction are as follows : Visā Śrimālī, Osavāla, Poravāda, Nemā, Levā Pātidāra, Khandelavāla, Dasā Hummada, Kathanerā, Dhākada, Nevi, Bannore, Bagheravāla, Saitavāla, Chaturtha, Panchama and Bogāra. Among the antisocial practices the most glaring one was that of child marriage and it is mentioned that in this regard only two castes, namely, Visā Hummaďa Mevāda and Sthānakavāsi Dasā Srimāli, were successful. The other important anti-social custom of dowry. still holds the ground in many castes and it is stated that it has recently entered into the Paravāra caste. Incidentally it may be noted that the Visā and Dasā Srimāli, Dasā Poravāda, Visā Nemā and Mesari Bhāvasāra castes of Svetāṁbaras and the castes of Digambara Jainas in South India do not possess the system of giving dowry to the bridegroom. It has been mentioned that the work of social reform including the present one of removing the anti-social customs from the castes is being carried out with some success by the Jaina Associations of a regional or all India nature like All India Svetāmbara Jaina Conference, All India Sthānakavāsi Jaina Conference, Mahārāshtriya Jaina Sabhā, Dakshina Maharashtra Jaina Sabhā and Mysore Jaina Association.
27. CASTES AND TEMPLES The ancient Jaina community, being religious and comparatively wealthy , had, during the last so many centuries, constructed a large number of temples throughout the whole of India and the process of constructing new temples is being followed even to this day. The religious minded , rich and philanthropic Jainas usually
