Jain Journal 1976 01

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

Page 41

JANUARY, 1976
127
In the monastic schools in general they acquired only what was necessary for the practical management of the Jaina cult. Therewith the prestige of Jaina monsticism and Jainism decreased, socially to a considerable extent.
In West India Jainism lacked the very strong support of the charismatic guru as a magical redeemer, a support which Jainism, like Hindu sects, had in other Indian areas. The West Indian Jaina sanghas undoubtedly for political reasons blocked the development of this institution.
Cultural Impact of Jaina Mission in India as a whole
In later periods in India there appeared a very different form of Jainism from that displayed in the penetration of Jainism into outlying Indian mission territories from North India to East, South and West India. Indeed, in the neighbourhood of its origin it underwent the typical prebendalizing process in the course of which it was penetrated by tantric magic128. Besides this, it had to compete with the Hindu propaganda of the Saivaites and the Baudhas and others and was amalgamated with the Hindu caste system (i.e., division of Jaina castes).
The lower folk strata made use of Brahmanical priests as benefactors. There appeared all the Hindu gods and goddesses as well as the ancient snake cult represented by Padmavati, and also Cakresvari, Ambika, etc. The developments were in motion, the beginnings of which were discernible in the accounts of the Jaina Guruparamparas as given in the Pattavalīs of the Kharataragaccha129 and others.
Through prebendalization and incorporation of the caste organization the transformation of the nature of Jainism was completed. Other trends appeared in India, where beyond its first monkdom very ancient trade relations maintained, especially in West India. Here is to be found in sharp opposition to the lack of organization of the former mission territory, a hierarchy of such unity that the religion of its representatives, the Jaina monks, is often described as a different system of religion, e.g. Sthankavasins, Terapanthins, etc.
128 Labdhi (spiritual faculty) of Mahavira displayed miracle in the fall of rain of flowers,
etc. on his paranaka day in the house of Vijaya at Nalanda. See Bhagavati Sutra, 15.1. Bhadrabahu removed epidemic by magical power of stotras, Sthulibhadra showed false lions to his sisters by his tantric magical power. Besides, Siddhasena Divakara and Manatunga Suri and Kharatara monks were devoted to tantricism. Jaina monks worshipped all gods and goddesses, such as Ksetrapalas, Sasanadevis
like Padmavati, Cakresvari, etc. for acquiring occult power and showed miracles. 129 See Kharataragaccha Pattayalis and others for all these cults.