Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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14 Jaina Religion: Its Historical journey of evolution
But it would be erroneous to think that present day Hindusim is an offshoot of pure Vedic culture. It has absorbed many of the ingredients of Śramanic culture in it. In fact present day Hinduism is a combination of both the traditions. And again, it would be equally improper to say that both the Jaina and the Buddhist cultures have remained uninfluenced by the Vedic stream or Hinduism. Both of them have taken a lot from Vedic tradition in the process of time.
It is true that Hinduism has been activitydominated. Yajñas, sacrifices and rituals have been predominant in it. Nevertheless, it does not lack in the concepts of renunciation, liberation and nonattachment. The elements of spirituality, renunciations etc. have not only been taken from Śramana culture but have been fully absorbed in it. Even though in the beginning of the Vedic period these elements were totally absent in it, in the Upaniṣadic period these elements of Śramaņa tradition were fully recognized by it. Iśāvāsyopaniṣad is the first attempt at amalgamation of the Vedic and Śramaņa streams. The existence of the concepts of saṁnyasa, tapas, renunciation, meditation and mokṣa in today's Hindu dharma proves this point. Furthermore, present day Hindu dharma has taken a lot from Śramanic culture; infact Upaniṣads are the meeting