Bhagwan Mahavir believed in the equality of all human beings. He never had any faith in casteism. In his sangha all the lower castes and untouchables were welcome. As sangha munis they enjoyed equal treatment and respect. Some upper caste munis had doubts about the theory of equality. If by becoming a muni the physical reality does not change so how can the caste belonging to it?
Bhagwan Mahavir learnt about it. He called those doubting munis to him and asked, “Have you seen the skin shed by a snake?”
“Yes, Lord, we have,” one muni answered.
“Do you know what effect that skin has on the snake?” Bhagwan Mahavir put another question.
“The skin blinds the snake.”
“And when it is shed?”
“The snake can see again.”
“So brothers,’’ Bhagwan Mahavir explained, “The caste is also like a snake skin. As long as it is on you it blinds you with the false pride of caste superiority. You shed it and you will start seeing the truth of the equality of human beings.”
The he-goat reply
Once Muni Harikesh was advising people to perform non-violent yajna with the express wish of Bhagwan Mahavir. There was then a practice of offering animal sacrifices in yajnas. Suddenly he was told that some Brahmins were taking a he-goat to be sacrificed in a yajna they had organised.
Muni Harikesh caught up with those Brahmins and declared, “Brahmins! Your yajna is not sacred.”
“How can you say that?” Brahmins questioned.
“A yajna where an animal is sacrificed can not be pious or holy.”
“What is your idea of a pious yajna?”
“A yajna where mind and senses are disciplined, non-violence is practised and body is clean.”
“But sacrifice is prescribed as a noble deed for yajna.”
‘‘Sacrifice is good of course but that of evil habits and evil thoughts. And not that of a he-goat. You must release the poor animal.”
A Brahmin laughed, “Muni! The he-goat has booked his passage to the heaven. Yajna sacrifice is heaven bound. Don’t spoil his future.”
Muni Harikesh realised that the Brahmins were too pigheaded to see the reason. Some clever trick needed to be employed.
He went to the he-goat and caressed it sympathetically and said something to it. The he-goat bleated. Then muni took his ear near the muzzle of he-goat and posed as if he were listening.
The Brahmins watched baffled.
One of them asked, “Muni, what are you doing?”
“I am talking with the he-goat,” muni informed.
“What talk?”
“I told him that he was a mighty lucky he-goat to be sacrificed at yajna and destined to go to the heaven as a result. I asked him if he had any last wish before getting sacrificed,” muni revealed.
“What did he say?” Brahmins asked.
Muni said, “He said that he had no wish to go to the heaven. He is happy here grazing green grass. He wants to know why he is being forced on the heaven. He suggested to me that Brahmins should send their wives and children to heaven through yajna process. Or better still you Brahmins could go to heaven yourselves since you are always clamouring for heaven.”
The Brahmins looked sheepish. They freed the he-goat to save themselves from further embarrassment.