Kali Age crisis as Jaina-Brahmana conflict: A contribution to Indian feudalism debate

Abstract

This paper reviews and reinterprets the representation of the Kali Age Crisis as the reflection of feudalism, thus analyzing the feudalism debate. It substantiates the argument that the Kali Age Crisis did not represent feudalism. The apprehension of Brahmanas regarding the Kali Age did not emerge from political decentralization. It was the result of the competition from Jainism, particularly in south India. The Brahmanas were wary of the Jainas consuming a major share of the state patronage, thereby depriving the Brahmanas of the material resources, which they aimed to monopolize.