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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congregation was prohibited. In this way, the tradition of temple dwelling congregation prospered and grew in different parts of the country by acquiring state patronage. This tradition and influence of temple dwelling congregation was thus anarchical and strong from V.N. 11" to 16M century in almost all the territories of the country. In those states where the entry of non temple dwelling congregations or monks was banned, even the veneration of monks belonging to the old pure and sacred Jain congregation became almost impossible for their followers. Thus the Jain followers of the pure rama a tradition not only found it difficult to venerate their wandering and practicing true rama a code of conduct monks, but they almost forgot the existence of their sacred scriptures and doctrine. Thus they also started taking the newly created holy texts and relaxed code of conduct, religious rituals and activities for them and their monks as the real and sacred doctrine and conduct prescribed by Omniscient Lords and the tradition of Lord Mah v ra thereby forgetting completely the real sacred scriptures.
Thus the status of the temple dwelling congregation as true representation and tradition set by Lord Mah v ra from V.N. 11th century till V.N. 1554 was all pervading and accepted. Their monks (temple dwelling) even though being non conformist to the scriptures continued to dominate the rulers and people alike during this period. They were considered as the true Jain monks. Those activities which were till then considered as sinful and pervert in the scriptures were declared as religious by these monks and their statements were accepted by one and all as true doctrine and religious activities.
Since V.N. 11th century which was the beginning of the dominance of temple dwelling tradition: the number monks following basic doctrine. right conduct and spiritual activities kept on declining gradually. In the third part of 16th century V.N., the situation became so pathetic that in northern India or faraway regions towards east, the tradition and the practitioners of real Jain conduct became almost extinct.
In the period V.N. 16th century, existence of forest dwelling tradition
c rya Udyotana Sri in northern India proves that the true and pure tradition of four fold tradition of Lord Mah v ra existed even during the hay days of temple dwelling congregation. For sheer selfish gains and under the influence of the temple dwelling congregation, these monks even called the forest dwelling tradition as extinct. But the scattered
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