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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But in 7" century V.N. or near about, the unified Jain congregation was trifurcated into Digambara, vet mbara and Y pan ya congregation. Therefore this trifurcation brought into play the weaknesses and the tendencies to default in conduct in the congregation and further development of new units within Jain congregation, each supporting some form of defaults in the conduct. Therefore as per the saying 'gat nugati ko lokah ', laxity in the conduct of monks, both male and females, started taking roots at a very fast pace. In this way, these rama as and rama s who had defaulted in their conduct started forming separate units of the congregation. They then started attracting householders, both male and female, in hoards towards their units. They also started making their units stronger and more powerful. To achieve these objectives, they started taking shelter of the time and its ill effects to support their laxities in conduct and introduce new rituals and concepts so that their followers grow in numbers. They told their followers, 'It is not a suitable time now to keep on wandering here and there, to accept tasteless food as alms as it makes the body feeble and weak before its due time and age. It is better to stay at one place rather than keep wandering here and there to undertake large projects of mass benefits. It is more appropriate to protect, preach the religion by staying at one place rather than keep on wandering here and there. These temples and monasteries, in course of time and with regular education of doctrine, performing worship and religious rituals will become centres of strong centres of religious studies and propagation. Food prepared i morning and evening to feed Lord Jinendra Deva will suffice to feed the monks staying there and save them from accepting flawed food from elsewhere. In this way, those householders who donate for building and rituals therein of such temples and preparing food in their kitchens will earn great meritorious karmas and acquire heavenly abode later on.
When the people listened for the first time that by spending money and without undertaking austerities, fasting, enduring afflictions and self restraint, they can earn next birth in the heavens; they became highly excited and interested in them.
Who does not wish the heavenly abode? Who does not want to attain liberation? When the well-to-do devotees of these traditions heard from their teacher's mouth the sermons assigning them a place in heaven, these devoted householders started flocking the monks and gurus of
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