Book Title: Jaina Karmaology
Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Page 134
________________ 129 Jaina Karmology by the families or classes of Candalas, fishermen, servants and slaves (and their children), goldsmiths, actors and hunters etc. The low status people occupy a low place in society. 3. Normally, there are only two sub-species of status-determining karma. However, there may be many sub-species depending on the degree or gradation of the factors of fame and defame. 4. In contrast to the Brahmin tradition, the concept of statusdetermination is specific to the Jainas. The Brahmins agree the status on the basis of birth. The Jainas, however, postulate it on the basis of actions, behaviours and good conduct. Thus, an individual following good conduct and involved in non-violent living could be a high status man despite his belonging to a traditionally low status class. Thus, the Jainas have a mutable status-determining karma. It could easily be seen that additional educational, reservation and employment facilities in twentieth century Bharata have yielded a large amount of mutation from low status to high status karma. 5. It could also be surmised that the status-karma is not only fixed by pre-birth conditions, it could be modified in current birth also. 6. The names of different high status and low status lineages in the commentaries represent the historical facts during the period of their compositions (5-8th centuries A.D.). They may or may not be applicable in twentieth century. 7. The concept of Aryan and non-Aryan lands seems to have changed to-day. It is not the lands or areas now, but the civilised culture of education, livelihood and socio-economic environment which could make one Aryan or otherwise irrespective of their lands of origin. 8. The factors for status-determination may be psychologically analysed: (1) Maternal race and (2) Paternal family represent the genetic or hereditary factors related with emotional, intellectual and social development. (3) The place or location factor is related with the (a) social (School and neighbourhood) (b) cultural and (c) family factors which effect the quality of individuals in terms of honesty, sincerity, exertion, objectivity, extrovertness, introvertness and the like. (4) The wealth, power and honour factors are related with economic factors of today. It is seen that wealthy and rich people have mostly been taken For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org Jain Education International

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