Prof. Dr. Lawrence A. Babb
It is a striking fact that most of the Svetambar Jains of Rajasthan consider themselves to be - like the Tirthankars, although in a different sense - transmuted warrior-kings. The Jains are identified by others, and identify themselves, as belonging to the Vaisya varna, the ancient social category of merchants and traders. Nevertheless, almost all the Osval Jains - and members of other Jain castes as well, Svetambar and Digambar - trace their descent to the Rajputs. The Rajputs are the royal and martial aristocracy of Rajasthan and are regarded as perfect exemplars of the Ksatriya varna, the ancient social category of rulers and warriors.
The Jains and Rajputs of Rajasthan have been in close contact for centuries, and their relationship is highly complex and in some ways contradictory. At one level, Rajput and Jain identities are radically opposed; at another level, they join. This chapter deals with Osval legends of their Rajput origin. These legends provide a culturally plausible account of Rajput-Jain connectedness. This account, in turn, draws deeply on images of kingship and kingly choice that are, as we have seen in previous chapters, central to the Jain view of the world. In this context, Jainism itself can be seen as a kind of origin myth for Jain social groups. To those who believe that Jainism is merely a soteriology, this will be a surprising development.
