Most Ancient Aryan Society

Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

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Srama
much studied from the Aryan point of view. Let us inaugurate the era of study from the Original Point of view which is essentially pre-Aryan but incorporates the Āryan at its due place in history, The Āryan literature, customs, traditions and thought have assimilated in themselves much that is pre-Aryan. The first chapter is necessary to understand the Āryan Way and the most ancient Āryan Society,
I have termed the pre-Aryan society as a śramaņic society. śrama means "religious exercise and austerity.” The word is
mostly applied to the conduct of Jaina and Buddhist Meaning of monks who were known as śramanas. The word
"Ņ'stands for knowledge.1 śrama, thus, means "the spiritual way" and śramaņa, the "right spiritual way."
śramana, as a follower of this way, is "the individual or society pursuing activities in a righteous, spiritual way." The fruit of Srama is Karma. Karma is the inherent movemental energy of Soul till Final Attainment. śrama is the outward manifestation of Karma. The word "Karma' has been translated as "Activism or Actionism.' These words 'activism or 'actionism' smack of some alien guiding force that permits or fecilitates movement. They do not suggest movement self-based, from within. It may not be translated as 'labour' also. Labour is a physical concept engaging in movement also out of compulsion. The science of Karmism or Šramanism revealed the basic turths of Soul, its Transmigration and Final Attainment. It was the foundation upon which the surperstructure of śramanic economic, social, political and administrative institutions was erected. Word 'Effort' comes nearest to the word śrama or Karma. 'Effort signifies inherent movement of the self-propelled soul. I preferred the word "Effort word 'Action'. Effort leads one to movement. The fruits of the movement become basis for further efforts. This is an ever-going circle till the Final Attainment is achieved. Effort in movement is Śrama wbile as the basis of further effort, free and self-propelled, is Karma. The science of śrama and Karma is unique to the
1. Monier-Williams : Sanskrit-English Dictionary ; 1966 ; Pages
1096, 431.