WORLD RELIGIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -In the beginning, Jainism was very popular among the traders and businessmen. The mercantile community was attracted by the rigorous asceticism and religious life of the Jains and adopted the Jain way of life. Being bound by a sense of fraternity they formed business guilds for smooth conduct of business.

Detailed explanation-2: -Kshatriyas, a robust community, resented the same and thus, people adopted Jainism and Buddhism in the end. The caste system was rigidly followed during the sixth century B.C. and there was absolutely no social mobility left across the society.

Detailed explanation-3: -Jainism came to prominence in the 6th century B.C., when Lord Mahavira propagated the religion. There were 24 great teachers, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira. These twenty-four teachers were called Tirthankaras-people who had attained all knowledge (Moksha) while living and preached it to the people.

Detailed explanation-4: -Merchants found Buddhist moral and ethical teachings an attractive alternative to the esoteric rituals of the traditional Brahmin priesthood, which seemed to cater exclusively to Brahmin interests while ignoring those new and emerging social classes.