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Lord Mahavira and His Times
superiority was wide-spread even in certain groups of the same caste because they considered themselves higher than others. The Udichchha Brāhmaṇas who were proud of their origin, regarded themselves as 'higher than other Brāhmaṇas. The Sākya Kshatriyas regarded themselves as higher than other Kshatriya clans..
Both Mahavira and the Buddha opposed the idea of a hereditary caste system, emphasising all the time that one's caste should be determined by what one did rather than by the caste of the family to which one belonged. It is a mistake, however, to suppose that caste distinctions were abolished once for all during this period. No doubt, both succeeded in removing caste distinctions in their monastic order, but they failed in their attempts to abolish it permanently from society.
KSHATRIYAS
During the time of Lord Mahāvīra, the Kshatriyas of the Eastern countries consisted of kings, nobles, ministers, military commanders, and other officers. In Jaina Suttas and Buddhist Pali texts, they are mentioned as occupying the foremost position in the caste order. It is believed that no Tirthankara was born in a family other than that of a Kshatriya. A legend tells us that before his birth, Mahāvīra was removed from the womb of Brāhmaṇī Devānandā to that of Kshatriyāņi Trišalā.
The Kshatriyas, took keen interest in the intellectual activity of the time. It is clear from the Jatakas that they used to devote considerable time to the study of the Vedas and other branches of knowledge. Several princes used to go to Taxila at the age of sixteen for higher studies. Even in the spiritual field, the Kshatriyas of this time were not behind any caste. The doctrine of salvation was, advocated by Mahāvira and the Buddha, who were Kshatriyas. The superiority of the Kshatriyas is clear from the legend in which the Buddha decided to be reborn as a Kshatriya and not as a Brāhmaṇa. In one of the Buddha's discourses, there is a dialogue between the Buddha and Ambattha, a dialogue in which the latter recognised the Buddha's superiority.
