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śramaņa, Vol 55, No. 1-6/January-June 2004
for their livelihood. According to their functions they are known as Brāhmaṇa, Kșattriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. The persons interested in religious activities are known as Brāhmaṇas. Those who are interested in arms are kșattriyas. The people doing agriculture and business i.e. money making are Vaisyas. The persons interested in other activities necessary for a proper human life are addressed as Sudras.as in the Uttrādhyayana-sūtra, while supporting the karma theory of social organization, it has been stated that a man is known Brāhamana or Kșattriya or Vaiśya or Śūdra according to the activity he does.26 Even Harkesi an issue of a criminal (cāndāla) becomes saint (Muni) by doing good karmas (Sukarms). In the Varânga Carita also, in the favour of the kama theory, it has been advocated that it is action or karma which puts a man in a particular class”? Abhidhāna Rājendra also supports the Karma theory by asserting that all persons have been originated through the same organ of origination, so how can they be put in different classes . 2*
In the Buddhist tradition also theory of Karma has been supported. As it has been mentioned in the Mahāvastu” and Aggajjasanta there was no class in the society in ancient time." Buddha has declared very boldly.
“Saba Jāti Vihino"931 It means all are without class (Jāti). If there is any class or caste that is only a Human class (Mānavajāti). Except this there is no class at all..? All have thighs, nails flesh, backs. All feel pleasure and pain in the same way. All have five senses. Birds differ from one another, animals have also difference among themselves. But human beings do not deffer bodily." In the Vajrasūci also there has been stated.
"Ekeva Jāti" It means there is only one caste or class. If there is any class that is only due to Karma. A Brāhmaṇa may be known as Brāhmana on the basis of his deed (Karma) In the same way, due to his activities a person may be categorized in lower class. 34 By birth no body is either Brāhman or man of lower class." Buddha has said that children imagine milk, curd, meat, ghee etc. of the dust lying by the side of road, in the same way due to the lack of the wisdom people imagined different classes of human beings, while actually there is no class except human class.
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