Question

What were the causes responsible for decline of Jainism in India?
(A) Lack of royal patronage
(B) Severity of Jainism
(C) Factionalism in Jainism
(D) All the above

Answer 1

Hint : Mahavir, the contemporary of Buddha, founded Jainism in Magadha of Bihar region. It thrived in modern times. However there were certain reasons that led to decline or downfall of Jainism.

Complete Step by Step Answer Mahavir and Gautam Buddha were contemporary to each other and put forth their own religion based on their own belief system. There were The downfall of Jainism is considered to be many. Those are mentioned as follows -

Lack of royal patronage
 Initially some rulers like Bimbisara, Udayin, Kharavela and Ajatasatru followed and adopted Jainism but in their lineage later on, religion was not kept up by the kings and princes.
Due to lack of zeal, enthusiasm and sincerity, the royal patronage came to relegate the religion which contributed to the factor of it getting declined or lost.

Severity of Jainism
Jainism proved to be very rigid and severe about its preachings of severe meditation, penance, restraint and fasting etc. These things were tough for people to endure and slowly people became disillusioned which in the course of time, once adored religion got alienated.

Lack of Efforts
None came forward to uphold the preachings of Jainism and there was a decline in the zeal of missionaries. Although some people were still loyal to the religion but slowly slowly the number of people following it became scarce.

Factionalism in Jainism
The death of Mahavir proved to be another cause of its declinement. His death created a rift between the followers as their thoughts divided. While some wanted to go forwards with the same teachings of Mahavir, others wanted to tone down the severity of the rules and his ways which caused rift and people got divided. The two sections, now as we know them, are Swetambaras and Digambaras.

Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism was simple and was considered a middle path between the rigid and toned down rules of Jainism. As there was no such severity, people followed it.

Therefore the answer for the question is (D) All the above.

Note : Hinduism also proved to be a threat for Jainsim. Great Hindu sages like Ramanuja, Shankracharya worked on the foundation of Hinduism which influenced people a great deal. These all reasons, therefore made the decline of Jainism inevitable