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अनुसंधान - १७ • 54
Activities of Jaina Munis
These multi-faceted facilities, say activities, did help and do help even now Jaina Munis to utilize their free time in reading those books in the libraries which enkindled their inquisitiveness. Secondly, the discipline of Vihāra, i.e. moving one place to another on foot, also helped them to look into the things lying on the road-side or in the forest and the system of Caturmäsa, i.e. compulsary staying at one place during rainy season, also gave them an opportunity to chew those things seen during Vihara-Yātrā, and which in turn offered an opportunity to verify those material or help confirmed them using the books of the temple-libraries. These two systems encouraged those Jaina Munis to write something on what they had seen during their Vihar tenure. Many of these writings of Jaina Munis do throw some light on many buried as well as moot problems of our history. Historical Importance of Jaina Literature
During their Vihar period they do come across many cities and villages, ger acquinted with different customs and cultures, observe and study monuments, sculpture as well note down the content of inscriptions and make necessary notice of historical places. They also make use of Jñānabhaṇḍāras on the way during their Vihāra. Steady life during Căturmāsa also give them timely opportunity to nourish their academic activities. These have offered students and researchers at their disposal description of many religious and historical places, minute narration of temples and images as well as reading of those inscriptions of Bhavana-Nirmāṇa and Pratima-Sthapana. Main contribution of Jaina Munis lies in books on sacred places which do nor remain just limited to only general description of temples, idols and places concerned but do furnish with information regarding geography, toponymy, inscriptions, political activities, society et cetera.
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