Question

In order to spread the teachings of Jainism, Mahavira organised an order of his followers which admitted:
A. only men
B. only women
C. both men and women
D. children and women

Answer 1

Hint: The teachings of Jainism were based on five doctrines such as, ‘do not tell Iie’, ‘do not commit violence’, ‘do not steal’ and ‘observe continents or brahmachari’. These teachings were preached in Prakriti language. Local people were welcomed to become the followers of Jainism and spread its teachings.

Complete answer: The teachings of Jainism were spread by his followers that included both men and women. The teachings of Jainism were preached in the local language, Prakrit to common people. It is said that there were 14,000 followers in Jainism which is not a large number. Although Jainism is not very clearly different from Brahmanical religion, it fails to attract the masses. However despite all this Jainism gradually spread into South and West India where Brahmanical religion was weaker. It was because of Chandragupta Maurya that Jainism spread in Karnataka. In the later centuries, Jainism spread in Gujarat, Malwa and Rajasthan. Some Jainas in those areas also engaged in trade and commerce. Although Jainism could not hold patronage as Buddhism and did not spread very quickly in early times but still retained its hold in India and in areas where it spread. Mahavira was the Jain tirthankar and after he died 23 predecessors or teachers of Jainism took his place and were called as tirthankar.
Therefore, option C is correct.

Note: The followers in Jainism took five vows as we discussed in the hint section above. They were required to commit their lives to nonviolence and move away from worldly pleasures. There were Monks and Nuns in Jainism.