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Impact of Vedic Tradition on Jainism 87 instrumental in the birth of some sects of Jaina samgha who were opposed to idol-worship. The Effect of Tantra and Bhakti-mārga on Jainism
From the Gupta period till 101-11th centuary AD Indian society went through a gradual moral degeneration; though this was also a period that witnessed a high level of excellence in fine arts particularly in the erotic art of Khajuraho and Konarak. Jina temples also did not remain untouched by its influence. It was also the period when eroticism in art received religious sanction with the creation of Krşņa-Rādhā - Gopis legend.
Tantra and tāntrika way of worship also spread. This was just like a fire in which Buddhist samgha got completely burnt but the Jaina samgha also could not remain unaffected by the flames of this fire. The spiritualist Jaina religion also got influenced by tāntrika practices. Many of the gods and goddesses of Hindu traditions changed into yakşas and yaksis or as caretaker gods and goddesses, they became members of big circle of Jaina gods. Many rules and regulations were framed in the tāntrika rituals to gain their mercy or to get mundane happiness and prosperity from them. A Jaina Tīrthankara being free from attachments would neither destroy his enemies nor
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