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The contribution of Jainas in the field of Art and... 111
an act by one single person at a particular point of time. It is the contribution of different people at different times. Therefore, in the areas of both thought and conduct, differences remained and continued. The outcome of this was that this sect got divided into its various sub-sects at the time of its birth itself.
In the 17\h century AD, Bhikanji Swami, a disciple of Raghunathji drifted apart and came out of Sthānakavāsī sect and established a new and separate sect called Svetāmbara Terāpantha. The reasons of his separation from the original Sthānakavāsī sect were basically two. (i) the monks of Sthānakavāsī sect started getting sthānakas built for their own sect and started residing there like those of the Yati tradition. (ii) Bhikanji Swami was insistent on his view that all acts of pity or kindness and charity etc. involving some form of violence in whichever way, even if it is violence committed to one sensed living beings only, cannot be called truly religious or non-violent. With the passage of time, this sect of Bhikanji Swami grew and evolved substantially, and today it is known and recognized as an enlightened sect of Jaina religion. The ninth Acharya of this sect Acharya Tulsi and the tenth Acharya Mahaprajna has taken it to great heights. After the emergence of Sthānakavāsī and
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