________________
184
INTRODUCTION
PERIOD AFTER SAMPRATI The innumerable temples constructed and the far more innumerable idols installed in the most distant parts of Samprati's kingdom might have found from amongst those who were freshly converted to Jainism necessary worshippers and care-takers not only during his reign but also for some time thereafter. Ultimately however the duty must have devolved upon those who were hereditarily Jains, and where they were very few or non-existant the Jain Sadhus must have been compelled to take upon themselves the care of the temples. Many of these temples were built in far distant parts of Samprati's kingdom, to travel where, the Jain Sadhus must have experienced great hardships. Gradually, those Sādhus who were not very self-sacrificing constantly to undertake travels in strict accordance with the letter of the rules of conduct for them must have remained near about such temples for longer periods and must have ultimately taken up their residence in temples themselves. This must have of course taken finally to crystallize obout a couple of centuries. There must have been also forces of ideal Sādhus trying to check and counteract this downward tendency. In fact we find such efforts in the biography of Sri Vajraswāmi. How the times aided this downward tendency can be seen from the occurrence of several famines including three long famines * since Nirvaņa of Sri Mahavira each extending over a period of twelve years, which devastated the land and annihilated men and animals and put an end to all culture. The wonder is that good conduct, learning and culture at all survived these recurring long famines. All the same they took their toll; and we find the best of Sadhus fasting unto death with Sri Vajraswami.
Before we deal with the life of Sri Vajraswāmi we would briefly describe the times after Samprati as evidenced, by history. Within 50
* The first occured a little prior to the death of Sri Bhadrabāhu i.e. 170 years after Sri Mahavira's Nirvana and the second a little prior to the death of Sri Vajraswami 584 Vira era and the third was about 980 Vira era.
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
