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APPENDIX No. 1
The Social Conditions.
By the time when Lord Mahavira saw the light of the day, Bharata-varşa was suffering from the disequilibrium arising out of the Vedic system of Philosophy. No age in the annals of India has ever witnessed these woeful conditions which it has suffered from in the 7th Century B.C. due to social multiform troubles.
Persons belonging to Non-Brahmanical sects were liable to capital punishment in view of circumstances and degree of guilt in the case, however, Brâhmins inspite of centuries of cr mes would go unpunished, and would under no circumtances be liable to any penalty.
People may bow down revering to Brâhmins but Shudras cannot be touched. Water polluted by the touch of Shudras will be branded untouchable. No Shudra as a rule was authorised or entitled to any pleasures of the earth They had simply to mind the menial affairs of the existing society They had not the slightest title to learning which is vital to life Though Sacred Books put limitations on this wordly acts still they were not entitled to even know what Shāstras were. Their next birth too depended upon the Brahmins. They could secure a good existence hereafter only if they followed the dictates of Brâhmins, Brahmins made them believe that they would be defiled even if they accepted alms from Shudras. Shudras could hope for Redemption only if they offered their humble and hearty, services to Brâhmins.
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