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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
which could be understood by the laymen was considered to be ordinary and vidya which could not be understood was considered to be great. This mistaken idea prevailed everywhere. It was considered to be a bad thing to discuss religion.
Mahavira's preachings were understood by all and opened the door to the salvation of the soul for all.
In order to give freedom to women Lord Mahavira made two great reforms; he recognized brahmacharya (celibacy) as a vow and he said that if a woman gets initiated as a nun, she can became free from all bondage. He discarded the importance of gender and castes and established the importance of good conduct.
कम्मुणा बंभणो होइ, कम्मुणा होइ खत्तिओ । वसो कम्मुणा होइ, सुद्दो होड़ कम्मुणा ।।
[One is born a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, a Vaishya or a Shudra according to one's karma.]
Thus he led shudras out of the darkness of slavery and lifted them up from beastliness to godliness. He said that a man or woman of any caste could practise religion. In fact, he said that a monk should not be at all conceited regarding his appearance, caste, knowledge, penance, and celibacy. This was Bhagwan Mahavira's great social revolution. He changed the whole situation. This true insight given from the depth of his soul made a permanent impact on the society. Bhagwan Mahavira fearlessly and firmly expressed his thoughts and liberated people from the bonds of a certain class of people, the practice of violence and mental slavery. He led the society out
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