Jainism

Author(s): N R Guseva
Publisher: Sindu Publications P L

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CHAPTER II
HISTORICAL AND ETHNICAL
ROOTS OF JAINISM
ACCORDING to the author's knowledge, the question viz. in which ethnical environments Jainism or the elements of the cult and those philosophic conceptions which lay at the basis of the faith of the Jains arose and developed, has not been elaborated so far.
It is possible only to surmise approximately which elements of spiritual culture of non-Aryan peoples penetrated into the new philosophic systems and religions, shaping themselves in India, in the first half of the first millennium B.c. and to attempt to bring those elements to light by the method of counter posing them to those elements, which were characteristic of the Vedic (i.e. Aryan) society.
There are at least eight features which distinguish Jainism from Vedic religion and Brahmanism. Those features are so much substantial that they do not afford any possibility of regarding Jainism as a sect of Brahmanism or its some other product. These features can be reduced to the following:
(1) Jainism rejects holiness of Veda (2) Stands against the dogma that gods are the main objects
of worship. (3) Rejects bloody sacrifices and a number of other elements
of Brahmanic ritual. (4) Does not recognise Varna-Caste System of the Brah
manic society.
Prescribes defence of other's life. (6) Prescribes asceticism. (7) Prescribes nudity at the time of ritual. (8) Allows women monkhood, learning of holy books etc. At the same time, it must not be forgotten that the philosophy
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