Teaching and learning guide for: Kali age crisis as Jaina-Brahmana conflict

Abstract

In the 1960s, an attempt was made to discuss the presence of feudalism in the context of early medieval India covering the period between 3rd century and 10th century CE. The Puranic literature provides information regarding the Kali age crisis. R.S. Sharma and B.N.S. Yadava considered it as representing feudalism. However, B.D. Chattopadhyaya and B.P. Sahu have questioned this argument. Kali age crisis represents the Jaina-Brahmana conflict in the age of state formation. This conflict is represented in the form of the fear expressed by the Brahmanas concerning the domination of the heretics including the Jainas. Such a study provides a new orientation to the Indian feudalism debate.