Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 272

Some Common Features of Buddhism and Jainism
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of wealth and power was on the name of sacredness. The life of common men had no meaning.
Mahāvīra and Buddha both proclaimed that this man-made institution of sacred birth is the main cause of socio-economic sufferings of the people at large. It is baseless and has been established by few selfish persons for their personal gains. There can be no such divisions bet. ween man and man. Birth should not be the dividing factor of the society.
To find an excuse of violence and torture religion was attached to them. Religious sacrifice, killing for manes and guests were permitted by the religion of the age, the religion of the so-called high class society. Killing of pet and useful beasts and offering of the goods of daily needs to fire was causing great harm to economic life of the society in general and common men in particular.
The opposition by Mahavira and Buddha to bloody sacrifice was based on the economic life of the society of their time. Sacrifices were common in that age though very few could afford them, because to organise a jajña was a very costly affair. The best of things were collected for performance of sacrifice. The best cows for gomedha, horses for a aśvamedha and goats for a ajamedha were taken from their owners without recompensating them. The same was the case with other items like corn, sugar, ghee, etc. This mode of sacrifice played havoc with the economy of the whole community of the time.
The sacred language was another mischievious act to deceive. Language is a means of communication. One can convey his feelings thoughts, ideas and message etc. through the language, best known to him. To attach sacrednness to some particular language and to discard others has no meaning. It was another means to deprive of a large number of society to certain things. The language being used for sacrificial rituals etc. was confined to very limited number. A major portion of the society was not allowed to study the books containing the details of sacrifice etc.
Mahavira and Buddha both proclaimed that the vehicle of thoughts is the vehicle of thoughts alone. What is good to the society should be conveyed in a language which could be understood by maximum number. It is why Buddha preached in the dialects of Magadha region and Mahāvīra in Ardhamāgadhi : "Bhagavan ca nam addhamā gahie bhāsäe dammam āekkhai”. Arddhamāgadhi is said to include eighteen dialects.