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Essence of Jainism
means by which this knowledge took positive shape. Not only the pages of the books but the paper etc., writing, inks etc., that were used came to be respected, because knowledge was preserved through them. The same great respect was paid also to the implements by which these works were tied, and the means by which these works were preserved. It was accepted that the give and take of the material means of knowledge was as meritorious a work as that of giving and receiving knowledge. Erection and Development of these treasures of knowledge.
On one side there was collection and enrichment of Scriptural writings and the glory of writing growing further and further, On the other side there were rivalries amongst the sects regarding knowledge. It was because of these two causes that the institution of knowledge running purely on oral tradition, was totally under change and started showing itself in form of large and larger treasures of knowledge, Bhandars. Sanghas in every village and city nourish a healthy feeling aod they must possess a treasure of knowledge. Almost all Sadhus, who have taken to renunciation feel that protection of dharma lies only in the preservation and enrichment of treasures of knowledge. The result is that in the whole country, from one corner to another, the Jain institution of knowledge systematized itself in form of these treasures - Bhandārs. Bhandars went on growing rich in manuscripts in which form the knowledge of various subjects and various sects continued to be collected and stored. There were only Bhandārs in the realm of Lord Mahavira -- Bhandārs of Sanghas, Sadhus and individual ownership. This gave rise to a class of copy-writers; the art of copy-writing developed and the class of researchers also developed. Even at the time when printing had not developed, it actually happened that as soon as some work was written, hundreds of its copies were prepared and were distributed among scholars in all the corners of the country. In this manner, the holy Ganges of the Institution of knowledge continued to flow unabated in the Jain world of sects. As a result of the living Jain devotion towards. knowledge, even till to-day there are so many Bhandars with such: old literature in variety that no number of scholars can possibly
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