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Purusartha or individuals own efforts. Atheism, efforts (Purusartha) and Karma philosophy became its central features. In the field of sadhana, Pravartaka-dharma evolved a philosophy of pleasing supernatural powers through rituals (Karma-kanda) Yajña and sacrifices, whereas Nirvartaka-dharma emphasized selfpurification and good conduct. It considered performance of rituals for pleasing the divine powers unnecessary.
ŚRAMAŅIC RELIGIONS & THEIR EVOLUTIONARY JOURNEY
Indian culture is a confluence of both Vedic and streams and both have played an important role in its creation. The Vedic stream is mainly action-dominated and sramanic stream is renunciation oriented. Present day Hinduism is representative ofthe Vedic stream while Jaina and Buddhist religions represent the Śramaņa stream. But it would be erroneous to think that present day Hinduism is an offshoot of pure Vedic culture. It has absorbed many of the ingredients of Sramanic 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 activity-dominated. Yajñas, sacrifices and rituals have been predominant in it. Nevertheless, it does not lack in the concepts of renunciation, liberation and non-attachment. The elements of spirituality, renunciations etc. have not only been taken from Śramaņa culture but have been fully absorbed in it. Even though in the beginning of the Vedic period these elements were totally
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