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170
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
language was hardly suitable for the purpose Hence the Lord chose the common language as his medium of expression
Prakrit means the natural language or the language of the masses The Lord spoke in popular tongue for the benefit of the people, hence he was instantaneously owned by the people as their master Children, females and illiterate folk were also amenable to the message They were enlightened by the Lord's gospel
Mahavira did not have any divine message to convey That's why the common language served his purpose well Some pundits of the age claimed to deliver God's word on earth How could common language be a suitable medium for this hallowed purpose? Such esoteric ideas can be garbed in a language incomprehensible to the common people in case it be comprehensible to the masses how would a coterie monopolize this wisdom? Mahavira terminated this monopoly. He presented the perennial truths of philosophy garbed in the popular language Spiritualism was within everybody's reach Earlier it was prohibited to the females and the untouchables to study the scriptures Thanks to the liberal outlook of Mahavira, they regained their right to study these holy works
The message of the Lord that linguistic fanaticism is a hurdle in human progress is ás relevant today as it was in the contemporary age 1
7 The Principle of Love and Vegetarianism :
Shraman Ardrakumar satisfied the queries of a dandı (Vedantic monk) and thence moved where Mahavira was present An ascetic, Hasti by name, stopped him in the way and said, 'It is good Ardrakumar that you defeated these Vedantic monks in arguments These monks live on roots and fruit and in the process destroy numerous minute lives We on the other hand, abstain from such violent acts'
'How do you live then?'
1
'Uttarauhayani' 6/10
