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Ramakrishna Paramhansa, in Bengal were two bright beacons illumining true Hinduism. The birth of Swami Vivekananda was just round the corner.
The followers of Jainism, the Darshan capable of reconciling any idea from different viewpoints with its theory of Anekantvada, were unfortunately suffering from the malady of a narrow out-look. The basic supporting ideology of the Four-fold Sangha was steeped in supporting several 'gachchhas'. Time was not yet ripe to bring about a transformation. There was no one who could put his finger on the pulse of the Jain community and direct it towards a higher level, or propogate the true spirit of Jainism.
While the Jain community itself was in the grip of infights among its own factions, there were groups of nonJains who believed that it was the Jains who were responsible for the degeneration of India. Jainism was considered a branch of Buddhism and the independent philosophy of this ancient faith was not accepted. That this idea was a mistaken one, could be proved only through scientific historical research. Then again several youngsters with Western education had started abusing religion as humbag. There were large groups who, in their zeal of reform, started attacking the drawbacks of the society and of religion. Thus, at that time the Jain religion had to fight on two fronts; the internal and the external.
Jain Education International
27
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