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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
137 Another reason that brought about a change in monastic life was the entry of all classes of people into the Jaina Sangha. "In the beginning of their advent, these Bhattārakas or Mandalācāryas served the cause of Jainism rightly well by diffusing the Jaina tenets and by converting people from all classes of society. These converts were put into various folds according to their different localities and occupations. Consequently the oneness of the Sangha disappeared and small folds or Upajātis took its place. Each Upajāti was attached to a particular sect of Bhattāraka and had its own customs and manners."484
Still another effect of the Muslim rule was ideological. It may be that the non-idolatrous philosophy and practice of Islam had its parallel in a similar sect of the non-idolatrous among the Svetāmbaras of Gujarat in about the 16th cent. A.D. Conclusions :
From the survey of the historical background to the spread of Jaina monachism in different parts of India under different dynasties as attempted above, a few generalisations seem possible which may be summarised as follows:
(i) The spread of Jainism seems to have taken place in successive phases of migration rather than in a continuous connected chain of events.
(ii) The Digambaras seem more restricted to the south, while the Svetāmbaras to the north India.
(iii) For the maintenance of their influence, the Jaina monks built up a strong and faithful organisation of the laity by keeping constant touch with the middle and the trading classes.
(iv) Another reason for the existence of Jainism upto the present day may be ascribed to "the inflexible conservatism of the Jaina community in holding fast to its original institutions and doctrines.''485
(v) This "inflexible conservatism”, however, under changing circumstances bent, but did not break, with a spirit of accommodation without revolutionising the very essentials of religion and of moral discipline.
484. J.A., XIII, No. i, pp. 16-17.
485. CHARPENTIER, CHI, i, p. 169. BULL, DCRI.-18
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