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JAIN SOCIETY AND NATIONAL CULTURE : 7 established. This had a very wholesome effect on the conditions of the Shudras which were very deplorable. Formerly, the Shudras were completely disregarded in religious matters and several binding restrictions were placed on their movements and ways of living. Tirthankara Mahavira's teachings proved a great solace to the Shudras as the practices of social discriminations against them were fully banned. This resulted in the rise of social status of the down-trodden people. Obviously there was a distinct change in the social attitude towards the non-Aryans and the common masses. Slowly there was a strong opposition to the continuation of the practice of slavery in any form.
2. Emancipation of Women
Another contribution of a distinctive nature made by Jain thinkers in the social field was in the direction of raising the status of women. In the latter part of the Vedic period women had practically been reduced to the status of Shudras. Like the Shudras, women were debarred from the right of institution and investment with the sacred thread. They were considered to have no business with the sacred religious texts. In many passages we find that women and Shudras were bracketed together. The very sight of woman was considered as inauspicious and people were asked to avoid seeing women, shudras, dead bodies, etc. Thus woman had practically no place in the religious life of the society and as such the woiman was neglected and degraded by the people.
This low position of women was definitely changed by Jain thinkers in many ways. They removed various restrictions imposed on women especially in the practice of religion. In fact, Jain Society did not make any
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