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Origin of Śramanism: Causes and Conflict
Dr. Niharika*
Śramaņas played an important role in the religious and ideological life of India. They were homeless wanderers and their homelessness was for the holy purpose. They were called 'Sramaņas' because taken by them in observing strict austerities, by dwelling in forests and rerenouncing the worldly affairs!. It signified the total break from all worldly relations, thus making them indifferent to all sense perceptions and finally enabling to ignore all actions based on worldly motives. They aim to seaze ‘act', 'hope' and 'wish'. They feel and think only ‘I am l' an opposite view to Upnişadic "Tat tvaṁ asi” They were "essentially pessimistic in worldly outlook, metaphysically dualistic if not pluralistic, animistic and ultra humane in its ethical tenets, temperamentally ascetic, undoubtedly accepting the dogma of transmigration and karma doctrine, owing no racial allegiance to Vedās and Vedic rites, subscribing to the belief of individual perfection and refusing unhesitatingly to accept a creator". He neither desires for life nor for death because both would be lust capable of awakening 'karma'. As it is well observed by Dr. Sagarmal Jain, “Śramanic tradition is stereological in its very nature. It lays special emphasis on renunciation of worldly belongings and enjoyments and an emancipation from worldly existence. It may be accepted without any contradiction that there, very ideas of emancipation (Mokşa/ Nirvāņa/ Kaivalya) and renunciation (Tyāgal Saṁnyāsa/ Vairāgya) have been cultivated by the Śramanas. The asceticism is the fundamental concept of Śramaņic tradition”.* Thus the basic difference between early Vedic religion and Buddhism and Jainism was that Vedic religion was against asceticism and emphasized the material welfare of the person and society, the Śramanic tradition condemned the worldly existence which is full of sufferings which intends a human being to the 'cycle of birth and death. But stopping this cycle is the ultimate goal of a Sramaņa. * Sri Agrasena Kanya Autonomous P.G. College, Varanasi.
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