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Śramaṇa, Vol 60, No. 1/January-March 2009
be known by an ordinary man. Only the saint who is omniscient is able to know all characteristics of a thing. An ordinary man knows simply some of them. So his knowledge is limited, finite and relative. All persons know a thing from their own viewpoints. Except omniscient nobody knows a thing absolutely. So all different knowledges are relative and correct. This theory of relativity removes the possibility of conflict in social life. People try generally to prove themselves right and others to be wrong. This causes the feeling of superiority. By proving himself correct and other person incorrect, a man shows seniority among his company. These disturb the social equality.
But Anekantavāda proves all knower right from their own angles. So the problem of superiority is removed and feeling of equality is established. Thus equality accepted mentally causes the equality socially also. The theory of relativity (Anekantavāda) paves a grand path to the social equality. Religious Exclusion
The religious exclusion surpasses all theories of equality, harmony and love. Religious Exclusion may be known as the Exclusion in the religious field, because exclusion cannot be a religious thing. The so called religious exclusion has following characteristics
Exclusion among different religion is not a new thing because it has been coming since long back, for example theistic religions. exclude atheistic religions and atheistic religions exclude theistic religions.
ii. Exclusion in the religion is nothing but a superiority complex from which the teachers and the followers of religion suffer. iii. The superiority complex is not a thing of saintly life. Yet some religious teachers or Acaryas are influenced by this complex. coming from their earlier life.
iv. In order to create this complex in their
followers they highlight their own religions and criticize that of others. For this they attach quite different meanings to the sutras or sentences both of their own religions and of others by twisting the meanings of words. v. Though religious exclusions are presented in
the name of the development of religions, but ultimately they show their weakness. vi. When the religions are disturbed by exclusions they cause the division of society. into different sects.
vii. Thus the social equality is destroyed.
The Jainas exclude not only Hinduism and Buddhism but they themselves exclude one another. They exclude Hinduism by negating the existence of God who is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of this universe. They exclude Buddhism by refuting the theories of momentariness (Kṣanikavāda) and non-soul (Nairātmavāda)
Digambara and Svetämbara
Jainism has been divided in two divisionsDigambara and Svetämbara. The Digambara saints treat sky as their cloth. They do not use any cloth like other people. They live naked for practising penance, because Lord Mahāvīra had practised penance by living naked. It means a saint should renounce everything. So the Digambaras consider themselves as the real followers of Lord Mahävira and on this ground they exclude Svetämbara. The Śvetämbara saints are whiteclothed so, according to Digambaras they are not the real followers of Jainism. Thus Digambaras consider themselves. superior to Svetämbaras.
The Svetambaras present reason for having white cloth. As they plead, Lord Mahāvīra used to live in the forest very far from the society. But after Mahavira the Jaina saint began to live in the society full of men and women. Like males,
