Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 84

70 Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution
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who live on the outskirts of the city are untouchables. The distinctions of Kärus and Akārus and touchables and untouchables are made for the first time only in Purāṇa period by Jinasena. None of his predecessors Jaina Acaryas accepted such distinctions. But later Jaina Acaryas who were influenced by the Hindu social system had by and large accepted this. The commentator Satprabhṛta, Śrutasāgarji has discussed the 'touchable' and 'untouchable' concepts though the writer of Purāṇas recognized the rights of Śūdras to be initiated as Kṣullakas. But later Digambara ācāryas have reduced their right so much so that Śūdras were not allowed to be ordained as monks; they were not even allowed entry into a Jaina temple. In the main text of Sthānanga-sūtra of Śvetāmbaras only the sick, mentally deranged or those obsessed by fear and eunuchs were not allowed to be ordained. But later commentators prohibited both categories of Śūdras such as Cāṇḍālas (birth or jāti related) or hunters (profession-related) from being initiated into monkhood. Though all this was against the original Jaina tradition but still this got accepted because of the influence of Hindu tradition. This reached such a state that the followers of the same Jaina tradition started abstaining from taking food touched by another caste, inter-dining, and taking water from a