Jain Legend Vol 3

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 71

A historical but unsuccessful attempt to bring out compromise /
consolidation of Jainism
After the death of Devardhiga i K am rama a, the material based religious traditions in Jainism had almost totally replaced its true and original spirituality based tradition. Jain followers started believing these new material based traditions as original.
The serious practitioner monks of true Jain doctrine started getting worried with new prosperity and influence of laxity in the conduct of monks and associated material based worships and religious rituals.
Many serious practitioner monks and c ryas of true Jain doctrine made many efforts to establish the influence of the original spirituality based Jain tradition but their attempts did not produce satisfactory results. Still, these c ryas did not lose heart and kept on trying. Their efforts did produce partial success also. Here it will not be out of place to say that even the partial successes of these reformist c ryas could not replace their failures. The main cause for their failure was the use of material based and attractive religious rituals by other materials based Jain congregations which have made deep impressions in the minds of Jain followers and rulers alike as true religion and became followers of these material based Jain traditions. Thus all the innovations in religious rituals introduced by these materials based traditions made deep impressions in the minds of all as true religious traditions. Alongwith another reason for the failure of the reformist c ryas was the attractive material incentives offered by the rulers and their advisers (who were followers of these materials based traditions to common people. Under the influence of these incentives, it became impossible for the reformist c ryas to succeed.
These reformist c ryas, who were true followers of the original doctrine and rama a conduct were extremely worried about the pervert changes made by the material based traditions in the conduct of monks and householders alike. The growing influence of these pervert changes were causing them pain like a thorn in their heart.
A detailed review of Mah Ni tha indicated that introduction of these changes in the code of conduct by different material based traditions if not introduced with some restrictions at different places in Mah Ni tha
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