Jainthology

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 37

Thus the Kulakaras who brought this Age to progress and development in the primitive tribal society taught their people during their respective periods gradually the ways and means for defence from the attack of Nature and ferocious animals. They fixed up the limitation of individual ownership of land and trees. Having tamed and reared wild animals, such as, elephants, etc. they taught their people to bring those animals to the service of communication. They instructed them how to bring up children and to christen their names. They educated their people how to protect themselves from cold, snow, etc. They trained them also to cross the river with boats, to climb up the hill by making steps, to protect themselves from rain by holding some covering over their heads, and lastly they taught them the art of raising crops, by cultivation of land, after which there came into existence commerce and trade, crafts and industries, all arts and industrial professions. Due to these arts and crafts, etc., this earth came to be called karmabhumi (land of action).
The study of these events as stated in the Jaina Agamas and Purāņas reveals that the history of mankind is the history of the struggle between animal man and divine man and that of the attack of man on Nature to protect himself from its offensive behaviours in various forms. This history is still continuing in the process of development of man and society, as divine man has been conquering animal man and Nature since the infancy of the human race up to the present day with his mighty force and scientific explorations and achievement.
Besides, the above account of the Kulakara system of society throws a considerable light on the middle and upper stages of savagery, and the lower, middle and upper stages of barbarism as shown by F. Engels and K. Marx. Middle stage of savagery begins with the employment of fire and the art of cooking and the active urge of discovery. Men spread over the greater part of the earth's surface by following the rivers and coasts and scaling hills from his original habitat.
"The crude, unpolished stone implements of the earlier stone Agethe so-called Paleolithic-which belong wholly or predominantly, to this period, and are scattered over all the continents, are evidence of these migrations. The newly occupied territories as well as the unceasingly active urge for discovery, linked with their command of the art of producing fire by friction, made available new food-stuffs, such as farinaceous roots, and tubers, baked in hot ashes or in baking pits (ground ovens), and game, which was occasionally added to the diet.
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