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female monks. Lok ha's method created an earthquake in the camps of the so-called ascetics (Yatis), c ryas, r P jyas and in gacchas on the whole, who were sunk neck deep in the swamp of possessions and luxuries. The course of gifts that used to flow perennially into different gacchas in the form of gold, silver, pearls, palanquins made of gold and silver, staffs/sceptres, canopies, yak tail fans, etc, thinned and gradually started drying up. The monks got agitated with the loss of their comforts, luxuries etc. So all of them joined hands together and confronted Lok ha united. They adopted all means - S ma (policy of conciliation), D ma (policy of monetary gratification), Da da (policy of coercion and punishment), Bheda (policy of divide and rule within the camp) and continuously plotted to overthrow him.
Lok ha, stood steadfast like a rock unruffled by these hostilities, hardships and harassment inflicted upon him by his opponents. Proclaiming the scriptural quotations, he advanced with undaunted courage on the authentic path of total reformation with that was laid with thrones.
People started flocking from every nook and corner to listen to him. They became the followers of Lok ha and active participants of the revolution. He openly and clearly, without any fear condemned the pompous external rituals and austerities of gacchas and declared to them that he is in essence, a Jain who treads on the authentic path propounded by Lord Mah v ra to attain salvation. Jain shrines and temples or even Jain idols did not exist anywhere in the country, be it villages, cities, towns, etc during the time of commencement of Holy Path (T rtha Pravartana K la). Construction of Jain temples, installation of Jain idols, worship, prayers, rituals, pilgrimage, etc. were not even mentioned nominally in Dv da mg which is considered as eternal and infinite. The infinite T rthamkaras of ancient times and 24 T rthamkaras of present Avasarpi period did not mention anywhere in their preaching that a devotee gets salvation by the construction of Jain temple, worship, installation or veneration of Jina idols.
Many centuries after V.N., the permanent Temple dweller c ryas introduced material worship, temple construction, etc. in original spiritual Jain doctrines. The methods and rules introduced in the religion congregation in the name of religion were nothing but the brain child of Temple dwellers. Just to prove their methods and attributes as centuries
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