Path of Arhat

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi

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The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
process of integration of the non-Aryan and Aryan cultures. Roughly, the period corresponding to 3500 B. C. to 1500 B. C. is considered to be the period of Indus valley civilization of non-Aryan races in India. This coincides with the Sumerian and Akkad civilizations of Middle east, prospered in about 2300 B, C. (They were also river valley civilizations) and Minoan civilization of Crete. Thus the period corresponding over two thousand years can be carved out for River valley civilization which spread over northern and western parts of India extending upto Saurāṣtra in Gujrat. It is a story which is five to six thousand years ago.
Aryan invasions of India dated approximately before 1500 B. C., i.e., about three to four thousand years ago from today, practically coincided with the Hellenic invasions of Greece. They seem to have brought some portions of Rgveda and other Vedas with them. From 1500 B. C. to 800 B. C. - a period of about 700 years may be termed as Vedic and subsequent Brahmana period. Brahmapas elaborate the rules and details for the employment of the Mantras or hymns at various sacrificial rituals. As a result of which the priestly class, with sole and exclusive right of performing rituals gained much social prominence and virtually dominated the society. During this period the Aryans liad completely settled and had fully vanquisaed the non-Aryan races. These were being absorbed in their social structure principally as 'dasyus' ( labour class ) and were treated as second class citizens. However, tbe Aryans had tremendous capacity to absorb and to assimilate all new thiogs of life. They not only adopted many cultural and philosophical thinking of their non-Aryan brothers, but also enriched the same by their own original thoughts. They realised that beyond this mundane existence as well as after life, there is something distinct. For attaining tiiat something the propitiation of gods by sacrifices and offerings of living beings is not the way. When acquainted with the non-Aryan theories of austerities, non-violence, Karma