________________
ROLE OF WOMEN IN JAIN RELIGION
Dr. Kumarpal Desal
Among religions, Jain Religion has contributed some original ideologies to the world. The most significant aspect of it is that it has always respected the smallest of the insects among living organisms and this attitude extends even to the inanimate world, to even a blade of grass. As a legitimate consequence, equality amongst men and fraternity with the animals, the insects and Nature in all its manifestations has come to be the essential feature of Jain ideology. It is but natural for such a religion to cultivate an attitude of respect towards women. The period when Jain religion emerged as a major religion also saw casteism and class-hatred ruling Supreme. A few of the classes or castes styled themselves as superior to others and the inferior classes were required to serve them as bonded labourers. Jain religion opposed this inhuman class distinction and glorified the soul that dwelt within each human being. Obviously, therefore, it emphasised equality between men and women. Jain religion regarded the women as equal partners of men in strong contrast to the common concept of woman as an inferior being. In the Jain fold, religious and social functions, a woman enjoys as many rights as a man does; it would therefore be sheer ignorance to treat woman as inferior. Jain religion has pre ched that where a man goes, woman can go; what a man does, woman can do. Achievements of man and woman should be considered as being on equal level. Matters of religious achievements and self development are related to the soul rather than to the body and the difference of sex as merely on the physical plane. Woman is thus equally at liberty as is man for religious worship and advancement. Both are equally entitled for liberation by freeing. themselves from the bondages of desires, passions and doings that is KARMA. Jain religion pointed out that there is no difference or distinction as far as the souls of a man and a woman are concerned, on the spiritual plane. Thus, it would be illogical, irreligious and ignorant for a man to treat woman as an inferior. Thus the approach of Jain religion towards woman is based on the concept of equality.
Jain religion is oriented towards emancipation. It mostly emphasises the values of renunciation, of detachment and liberation. Normally, in almost all religions a woman is belittled whenever the concept of freedom from passion is being highlighted, for the reason that she evokes passions and carnal desires, and thus she is someone to be avoided or kept at a safe distance. But in the Jain fold, the approach is totally different. "Sutrakrutang Niryukti" specifically mentions that just as a woman is liable to destroy the character of man, so a man might destroy the character of a woman. Hence, women averse to worldly pleasures shall save herselves from men, in the same manner as men have to save themselves from women.
Jain religion has also probed some of the deeper aspects of man- woman relationship. The significance of the word NARI had been fully explained in 'Sutrakrutang Niryukti' and in 'Churni' and woman has been classified as 'Dravya Stri' and 'Bhav Stir'. Dravya Stri would mean the physical formation of a woman and Bhav Stri would mean her temperament. So also in 'Uttradhyayan Churni'. 'Nishith Churni' and 'Acharang Churni' the female temperament is elaborately described. Again,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
