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Four Institutions
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Things worth knowing
Very much delighting and important indeed are the facts and history of idols, temples, treasures and movement of the Sanghas, along with the places of tirthas. All this history is really worth knowing - what part was played, how and in which age by wood, metal and stone in the construction of idols and temples; how one system followed another; how disorganization and disorder crept in the treasures - Bhandārs; how these were replaced by good organization and control; how hundreds and thousands of men and women in Sanghas moved to near and far off tirthas and what works they undertook, etc.
We have raised tirthas only from the inspiration to cultivate renunciation, peace and discrimination; our purpose in going on visits to these tirthas and spending energy, wealth and time on them is just the same.
Darsan ane Cintan, part one, pp. 405-408.)
Iostitution of knowledge-treasures of knowledge
Wherever there is humanity, there is natural respect for knowledge. In India respect for koowledge persists and continues since last thousands of years. The streams of the Ganges and Yamunā of Brahmaņa and Sramaņa traditions continue only on the expanse of vast knowledge. The austerity of Bhagavān Mahāvīra is nothing short of deep search after knowledge. For this search be tortured his body, set aside the considerations of day and nigbt. Thousands of people thronged to be enlightened on and heard of this deep search. This search is knowledge and the dharma of Bhagavān Mahāvīra has its basis in it.
Glory of Knowledge and its Means
That knowledge took the name of Sruta and Āgama. It continued to be enriched and clarifications continued. The glory of knowledge continued to be enriched as more and more celibates came in larget and larger numbers on the banks of the Mānasa lake of Śruta and Agama. This also led to the enrichment of the gross
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