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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
and universal love spread among the people.' Even Buddha, a great saint, who was contemporary of Lord Mahāvīra made highly praiseworthy efforts in propagating the grand principle of non-violence and universal love. The Venerable Ascetic Mahāvīra taught the people:
kammunā bambhano hoi kammuņā hoi khattio / vaisso kammunā hoi suddo havai kammună //
-Uttaradhyayana, Adhyayana 25 Meaning: One becomes brāhmaṇa, ksatriya, vaisya or sūdra by one's actions.
Thus he emphasised the principle that caste should be determined by one's actions. This is the best principle that can establish harmonious social order. Not subscribing to it and accepting the wrong principle in its place that caste should be determined by birth, the Indian society lost its vigour and vitality. The invidious feeling of discrimination of high and low was so strong at that time that those who were regarded as 'low' were
1. Viro yadājāyata Bhāratasya
sthitir vicitrā samabhūt tadānim / müdhakriyākāndavimohajäle nibadhyamanā janata yadā"sit //28// When Lord Mahāvira was born, the condition of Bhāratavarşa (India) was shocking. The people were being ensnared in the deluding net of blind ritualism. dharmāgrani'bhiś ca jano yadā'ndhaśraddhāvațe'bhūt paripätyamānaḥ / uccabruvā nīcapade'vagamya paran yadānalpam adūdavamś ca //29// The self-styled religious leaders were pushing people in the deep dark valley of blind faith. Those who considered themselves 'high' ('superior') looked down upon others, regarded them as 'low' and oppressed them. yadāpajahur mahiladhikaran anyāyatah paurusagarvamattāḥ / dharmāya yajñadişu bhūrihińsāpāpānalah prajvalito yadā"sit //30// Men who were infatuated with the pride of their manliness were unjustly depriving women of their rights. Fire of sin of killing animals in sacrifices in the name of religion was dangerously flaring up. etädyse Bhārata-dausthyakāle devāryadevo visaye Videhe / khyāte pure ‘Ksatriyakunda'nāmni prājāyata ksatriyarājagehe //31// At that time when Bhärata (India) was in such bad condition, Lord Devārya (Vardhamana alias Mahāvīra) was born in the royal palace of ksatriya king in Ksatriyakunda, a well-known town of the ancient kingdom of Videha (modern Bihar). [These verses are from the author's poem Vira-vibhūti]
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