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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision manifestations of this concept of non-violence. It provides cattle-ponds and also shelters for insects.
The twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahavira Swami showed his disapproval of discrimination based on caste, colour and creed at a time when these were deeply entrenched in the society. Casteism was rampant and all types of cruelties were perpetrated in the name of castes. Jainism believes that at the root of this evil lies excessive pride, pride in one's own superior caste. Its direct concomitant was hatred for other castes and this was a clear violation of basic rights. Jain religion challenged the caste-structure and shook its very foundations. Mahavira said that a person can enjoy a higher status through his qualities or deeds and in the same way he goes down in esteem through his lowly deeds and acts. Recitation of a mantra (incantation) does not make one a Brahmin or member of superior caste. He said :
कम्मुणा बंभणो होइ, कम्मुणा होइ खत्तिओ ।
वईस्सो कम्मुणा होई, सुद्दो हवई कम्मुणा ।। (A man is a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra by his deeds rather than by his birth]
Thus, Mahavira struck at the roots of the caste-system and sought to remove the long-standing enmity between the Kshatriya (warrior - caste) and Brahmins (superior caste). After his diksha (initiation), he ate his first meal at the house of a Brahmin. On his attaining kevaljnan (ultimate knowledge), eleven learned Brahmins became his first disciples. Similarly, Metaraj belonging to the lowest caste - Shudra - practised rigorous penance and became malarshi (great sage). Even today there are a few Jain Sadhus who do not belong to the Jain
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