________________
जैनागम विरुद्ध मूर्ति पूजा
१६७
am not greatly mistaken I have somewhere expressed my opinion that worship in temples is not an original element of jain religion, but has been introduced in order to meet the devotional requirements of the deity. the practice of idol worship seems to be pretty old, though not as old as the composition of the Siddhanta. It seems to have been substituted for the worship of Yakshas and other popular deities and demons which seems to have obtained at the time of Mahavira among the people at large a kind of religons sect which formed no part of the jain creed though it was to Ireated by the early Church looked at from this point of view, the worship of the Tirthankars is clearly an improvement Since a purer object of adoration was substituted for one of little or no moral dignity though originally (and I think even now) worship was not and is not theoretically considered as a means of attaining Nirvrati. I should like the obtain more accurate knowledge abut the history of your sect which are the agamas you do acknowledge? have you any old shastras in Sanskrit or magdhi which teach the tenets of the Sthanakwashis? Caniget a Pattawali of your Yatis ? Dated 29-8-1911.
Yours sincerely (Sd.) H Jacobi..
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
