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254
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
mission of the king to renounce and was initiated by Lord Mahavira 1
Many other sons of Shrenik thus sought initiation 2 Meghkumar is remarkable amongst them Many queens of Shrenik also were initiated in the Lord's order3 Biographical events of his life indicate that the later part of his career was devoted to Lord Mahavira
Bihar was during those days alive with religious ferment Many tirthankars and spiritualists chose it where to unravel great spiritual mysteries One truth found its manifestation through different mouths One light burst out through many windows However, the people sometimes vacıllated whom to choose as their saviour
Time and place are two historical factors of great magnitude There comes a point of time when numerous great souls occur on earth The era of Mahavira was such a one Spiritualism was so vigorously stirred that till today we feel the mighty impact However, the upheavals of thought let a few well-marked cracks which are called castes That explains why people ask whether Jains are Hindus or not Mahavira and Buddha exploded the rituals and orthodoxies of Vedic orgin And the miracle is that none raised this bogey of casteism during those days and asked whether Buddhists are Hindus or not Thanks to the pristine glory of the age, the lotus of spiritualism was far above the muddy surface of casteism
1 'Anuttarovavaidasao 1/15, 'Awashyakchurni, Il pt p 171 2 'Anuttarovavaidasao' 1/15
Antgadadasao' Chapter 7, 8 (Some queens were initiated in the seventh year, other in the fourteenth of tirthankarhood)
