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102 Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution
with its own interpretation of the prohibitive aspect of the concept of non-violence.
In Digambara sect Banarasi Das raised his voice against Bhaṭṭārakas and also denounced the worship of Jina-idols with living (sacitta) substances. But Taraṇasvāmi went a step further. He prohibited idol-worship altogether in Digambara sect; not only this, he re-established the spiritual aspect of religion. The sect pioneered by Banarsi Das grew, as Digambara Terapantha and Tāraṇasvāmī's movement became known as Tāraṇapantha or Samaiyā. In the Caityalayas of Tāraṇapantha sacred text or 'sastra' was installed in place of the idol. Thus, in 16th century AD Jaina tradition took a new turn because of the influence of Islam and new sects which did not believe in idol-worship were also born. However, old sects continued as they were.
On the one hand spiritual endeavour, which was the life-essence of Śramana culture, was not visible at all in the Yatis of those days. Religion was so much over loaded with rituals that its true essence got suppressed. The natural, simple essential form was getting lost and its place was taken over by religious rituals with increasing hold of affluent people on it. In the name of religion people started to expect mundane or worldly
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