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JAINA SYSTEXT OF EDUCATION
This colution of the standard of socational selection in ancient India was an interesting slow and a tentatic process There was a transition from 7 dull, mechanical aristocratic to a vital rational and deinocrauic ctilcrion 'The idcals of aristocracy came to be replaced by thc idcals of personality of personal competence. The gerra of this democratic idcal may be traced to the Mahabharata It was developed in right camnest by thic Buddlusts and the Jainas The Buddhists ex pomenced the influence of the won on the workers-a vital thing The Jainas wanied to malc education a concern of the State in a spint of racial democracy The Hindu limiters wanted to adjust the vocations to the talents of the socarics Thus there was a constant progress in the dircction of balancc liarmony and perfection Hence as in the modern period vocational guidance was practised in ancient India.
Let us nou turn to the discussion of the final phase of vocational education in Jaina India In imparting vocational education to the future citizens of thc State the family the Church the School the State and Industry-the five great institutions were alıyays acuve. We lave elsewhere duelt on the important and cffective parts played by them in moulding the educational system of India and thus moulding the very soul of Indian civilization and culture
The Statc centunes before the Christian era when Jainism was in the ascendent tool keen interest in the welfare of its citizens and for its furtherance introduced agriculture trade industry and diverse vocations so essential to supply the physical needs of human life Thetc is textual evidence to show that Lord Roxabha was keenly interested in the promotion of vocational education of the people Thus the Lord taught the citizens of his State five sılpas exhorted them to settle down into agricultural life and to various gainful occupations We quote below to illustrate the five sulpas ___"वक्ष चित्रक कुविन्द मापिता-नासमोदिति सपञ्च शिल्पिनः। बाम्पमी तु शतपाs
Hvat funfausraten 9973952 Hemacandra the great Jaina leader of the Svetambara sect stressed the same point when he ascribed to Lord Rsabha of Vinita (Oudh) the introduction of vocations concerning food clothing and shelter-the
32 Padmdnanda Mahakarya, p. 208
