Risabha Deva

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

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RISABHA DEVA
The Hindus hold that they were the founders of the caste-system; but the account they give of it fails to explain the need for its origin, is mythological in its nature-Brahmanas originating from the mouth of Brahma, Kshtriyas, from his arms, Vaisyas from his belly, and the Sudras from his thighs-and ends in making one section of mankind eternally hate another, on the ground of blood-inferiority. The Jainas, on the contrary, recognise the basis of the system to be grounded on occupation, but not on blood, attribute its origin to man, and explain its need to lie in the establishment of stable 'if not an ever-lasting, empire!
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As for the origin of the Brahmana caste, it seems to have come into existence later on under Bharata. He one day invited the male residents of his capital to visit him at his palace, and so arranged things that only a small path was left for the people to pass along, unless they chose to go over the extensive grass plots on either side of the way. His object was to find out those who were the most tender hearted among men, and who recognized the presence of a soul even in the lowly blade of grass. Those who would not tread on the grass he called Brahmanas; because of their knowledge of Brahman (the divinity of life). The WORLD TEACHER condemned Bharata's action in undistinguised language, and probably in the Jaina scheme of things, the Brahmana class had no place, as an integral part of the caste system, till the time of the author of the Adi Purana, who
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