Jain Journal 1975 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 12

JAIN JOURNAL
So far as it is to be viewed as Jainist at all, lay piety found its point of gravity in the worship of the images of the Jinas14 in agreement with the nature of the relation of Jainism to the laity. The influence of the clergy in the form of Gurus, Acaryas, etc. must have been rather significant politically so far as the castes like the Ksatriyas and the Vaisyas did not resist it, e.g. King Candapradyota did not resist the influence of Mahavira when the queens Mrgavati, Angiravati and others desired to join the Sangha of the Master15.
Nowhere did the practice of the Jaina lay rules so nearly approximate the theoretic demands16. These rules, however, placed quite modest and essentially formalistic demands on the laity as found in twelve aņuyratas (small on lesser vows)?. Instruction in reading and writing, listening to the sermons and asceticism, etc. exhausted the Jaina life content. In practice, belief in the holy Tirthankaras dominated the life of the laity. Certainly the monastic community itself, whether Svetambara or Digambara, has always been held in high honour as the guardian of the pure tradition and the canonical works.
It is usual to consider the Indian territories as pure mission territory of Jainadharma and Sangha. This does not hold without qualification. The diverse political structures18 which arose there in ancient period through repeated conquests were exposed to Brahmanical, Buddhistic Ajivistic and Jainistic religious influences. The Brahmanas, the Ksatriyas, the Vaisyas, etc. and Vedic education, and at least the beginnings of caste formation (castes of artisans, etc.) were to be found. Indeed the nearness of Uttarapradesa and Bihar as the first missionary centre determined the fact that in the end of many years Jaina Sangha won the field after many princes and princesses of North India, e.g. the sons19 and grandsons 20 of Srenika, queen Mrgavati 21 of Kausambi,
14 Both the Digambaras except the Taranapanthis and the Svetambaras except
Lunkagacchas, Sthanakavasis and Terapanthis make the image worship of
the Jinas. 15 Bhagavati Sutra, 12.2.441-2.; Av. Cu., p. 88f. 16 The Jaina laities follow twelve anuvratas but not five mahavratas. See Bhaga
vati Sutra, 18.10.648 and Uvasagadasao, 1, Ananda Upakhyana. 17 Bhagavati Sutra, 18.10.648; see also Uvasagadasao. 16 Vaisali, Magadha, Kasi-Kosala, eighteen ganarajas and sixteen janapadas
had diverse political structures at the time of Mahavira; see Dr. J. C.
Sikdar, Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra, pp. 75-145. 1. Bhagavan Mahavira, p. 93. 20 Ibid., p. 121; see Nira, avalio Sutta, 11 Bhagavati, 11.12.550.