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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.
Timeless Message of Bhagwan Mahavira accepting everything blindly and to reject what was worth rejecting. In short he wanted people to show courage of conviction.
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.
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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A householder, he said, had also certain duties to perform. A sadhu had to observe five mahavrat (vows) and for householder he ordained twelve vrat - five anuvrat and seven shikshavrat. If these are observed scrupulously, a person can be said to have led a meaningful life. Mahavira was not for religious disputes and averred that every opinion had some truth, for truth was relative. He urged people to practise nonviolence in conduct, anekanant in thought and syadvad in speech. He said, "Religion is supreme. Non-violence, restraint and penance are its chief attributes. One, whose mind is turned to religion, is revered even by gods. He stressed the importance of five mahaurat (five yama) and they are valid today as they were 2600 years ago.
The first mahavrat is non-violence. He said, "The one you want to kill is your ownself and the one you want to rule over is also your ownself. Therefore a truly enlightened soul will never think of killing anyone or ruling over anyone. Nor does he cause pains to anyone." Non-violence is the basic postulate of Jain religion. It is at the heart of the religion and the concept of 'live and let live' is its cornerstone. All are equal, it says, and therefore let everyone live happily and let no one be the cause of unhappiness to others. Violence results in the formation of karma. Bad conduct, lying and indolence are attributes of violence. Truth, astey (non-stealing), celibacy and detachment are attributes of non-violence. It is rightly said that 'war is born in the hearts of men'. Non-violence in thought is reflected in anekant.
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