Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 3
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
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gifts from their followers to build large temples and large kitchens in these temples to offer food to the idols installed in these temples. Then they started eating the flawed food from these kitchens which was totally against the scriptures. In this way from V.N. 850 onwards this tradition of temple dwelling monks and their lax conduct started and they preached and practiced openly.
However, till V.N. 1000 due to the existence of some prior canons knowing preceptors, this new tradition of temple dwellers remained in the background. But after the death of the last prior canons knowing Devardhiga i K am rama a; influence of this new tradition of temple dwellers gained momentum and grew at a very fast rate. The rich followers of temple dwelling monks continuously donated liberally to this new congregation of temple dwellers thereby making them prosperous, influential, self sustaining and popular. This increasing prosperity and popularity of temple dwelling congregation resulted in introducing a list of ten relaxed rules in the code of conduct of monks which were totally contrary to scriptures and made the life style of temple dwelling monks more comfortable, austerity free, secure and luxurious in all respects than of the householders themselves.
By preaching, propagating and making use of these ten relaxations in the code of conduct as compulsory and the newly introduced rituals, the temple dwelling sect made fundamental changes in the original Jain religion.
By totally giving up the fundamental doctrine of religion like spirituality, non violence, non possession, veneration of qualities and psychic meditation / spiritual contemplation on detached and formless pure all knowing liberated soul with eternal existence and bliss; and replacing them with materialism, rituals involving violence, possessions, material offerings, worshipping the idols as the highest religion; this temple dwelling congregation badly bruised and tainted the right code of conduct of rama as as depicted in the scriptures. The ten relaxed rules introduced by temple dwelling congregation did not give credence even to one quality of the monks as given in the scriptures. On the contrary, almost all the major flaws of the code of right conduct given in the scriptures were given primary place in the code of conduct of the monks of their tradition.
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