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22 Jaina Religion: Its Historical journey of evolution
they themselves got influenced by the same deformities. Now, Vedic ritualism entered the Buddhist, the Jaina and other Śramanic traditions in their worship style along with the new forms of tantric practices and became a part of their Meditational process. Thus, meditation meant for spiritual purification came to be used for material gains. On the one hand Sramanic tradition has given the concepts or tapas, tyāga, renunciation and moksa along with spiritual philosophy of life, on the other hand the culture of worship and tantric practices of meditation entered in both Jaina and Buddhist tradition because of the influence of Vedic tradition, as early as 3" or 4th century AD. Many Hindu gods and goddesses were accepted in Jaina and Buddhist religions. The concepts of yakșa and yakșinis and the concept of the caretaker gods are nothing but Jainization of Hindu gods and goddesses in Jaina religion. Many Hindu goddesses such as Kālī, Mahākālī Jvālāmālini, Ambikā, Cakreśvarī, Padmăvati etc. were accepted as caretaker-goddesses in Jaina dharma and became a part of Jaina culture. Similarly Sarasvati as goddess of learning and Lakşmi as goddess of wealth started getting worshipped in Jaina tradition. The Ganesa of Hindu tradition as Pārsva-yaksa became the god of universal welfare. Jaina temples began to have yajñas etc. due to the influences of the
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