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and gave a simple, natural unostentatious form to spiritual endeavor.
Jaina religion too, could not remain untouched by this development in the Indian social scene. From the Gupta period onwards, and from the beginning of Caityavāsa, traditional ritualism was becoming predominant in Jaina religion and the essence of religion got lost in the plethora of rituals. Religion became an instrument used by the priests or Purohitas for fleecing people. Ordinary people were rejecting expensive, ostentatious rituals without an iota of spiritual element. Under such conditions in both the main sects of Jaina religion three very special persons were born. These are Lokashaha in the Svetambara sect and Banarasi Das and Taranasvāmi in the Digambara
sect.
On the one hand iconoclastic activities of Muslim rulers and their increasing influence in this country and on the other hand simplicity of Islam, which was free from the burden of rituals, influenced Hindu and Jaina mindset. This can be taken to a certain extent as the cause of the origin of the sects which disapproved idol-worship in Jaina religion. Lokashaha was born around V.S. 1475. Though Muslims were not able to establish their rule in the whole country till this period, in many parts of the country Muslim rulers did establish their authority. Gujarat also did not escape this influence. The other characteristic feature of this period was that Muslim rulers had started dreaming about the spread of their sovereign powers over the entire country. But for this, it was necessary for them to take their Hindu subjects along with them. Thus Muhammad Tuglak, Babar, Humayun etc. started employing Hindus in their administrative services, with a view to spread, preach and promote
113 Jainism and its History
