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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
she would be entitled to liberation. Mahavira paved the way for her to reach spiritual heights, which was closed to her for centuries, for she was considered impious, unchaste.
The caste system was very rigid and the society was riven with the evil of casteism. Shudras (low-caste) were in miserable condition and led almost hellish, sub-human existence. Bhagwan Mahavira succeeded in removing caste system and emphasised the importance of character and of birth. He said, "Your karma determines whether you are a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra – the four main castes in those days. Rituals for him were meaningless. Character, according to him, was supreme and Shraman was one who never prides himself on caste, beauty, knowledge or penance. He, thus, brought about social revolution and transformed the entire society. Since Mahavira had overcome vices like ill-will, attachment, malice etc. he was called Jin and the followers of Jin are Jains.
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His concept of a sadhu was a perosn with open mind, one who is generous and believes in non-violence, is not lazy and is free from complexes. He will not depend on others, will undertake journeys on foot only, and that, too, bare-footed. He will be, in short, self-relient, will be indifferent to pains and pleasures. He will, said Mahavira, continue to walk on the path of liberation.
Mahavira emphasised celibacy, for he considered it an act of supreme self-control, dictated by one's soul. Similarly, penance also helps one to get rid of Karma. What he showed was the path of liberation, of getting rid of mental 'slavery'. He sought to dispel the darkness of blind beliefs and rigid customs which imprisoned the soul and prevented one's journey to a higher level of consciousness. He urged people to think before
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