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Role of Women in Jain Religion
Among religions, Jain Religion has
contributed some original ideologies to the world. The most significant aspect of it is that it has always respected the smallest of the insects among living organisms and this attitude extends even to a blade of grass. As a legitimate consequence, equality amongst men and fraternity with the animals, the insects and nature in all its manifestations has come to be the essential feature of Jain ideology. It is but natural for such a religion to cultivate an attitude of respect towards women. The period, when Jain religion emerged as a major religion, also saw casteism and class-hatred ruling supreme. A few of the classes or castes styled themselves as superior to others and the inferior classes were required to serve them as bonded labourers. Jain religion opposed this inhuman class distinction and glorified the soul that dwelt within each human being. Obviously, therefore, it emphasised equality between men and women. Jain religion regarded
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