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MAHAVIRA: A GREAT DEMOCRAT
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thereby. Mahāvira is not particular even about his creed. He admits that any person with the desired purification of soul can attain salvation. It does not matter whether he is in the uniform of a Jain monk or householder or belongs to the order of some other sect.
Next, we find in Mahāvira a strong devotion of selfreliance. It is said that when he started his life of penances and was open to hardships, Indra, the king of gods, came to him and offered his assistance in wording off the intruders. Mahāvīra did not accept the offer and said "A traveller on the path of inner realization does not seek external assistance."
In a society where pleasure of gods was essential for prosperity and other gains, he announced for the first time, "O man, you and none else, are the maker of your destiny." The self of a man is his friend and the same is his enemy. It is a friend when directed towards right path and enemy when directed to the wrong path. Mahāvira recalled the inner-strength of man and released him from the slavery of gods and goddesses. He did not believe even in God as the Creator. The man himself moulds his future as he desires. Non can grant him boons or shower curses if his own actions do not deserve them. This is how the Jain theory of Karman developed; according to which the future of man is decided by his present and past actions. The Jain theory of Karman is altogether different from fatalism where future of a being is sealed, leaving no scope for efforts. According to Jainism the fruit of Karman is not altogether unchangeable. It can transferred from a stronger intensity to the milder one,
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