History of Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 001727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 616
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & History
File Size: 12 MB

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S. B. DEO
The junior monks were expected to give perfect respect to the elders. The former were not allowed to go ahead of or along with the superiors. The junior monk had to stand up in respect when the thera was coming. No act such as kicking the bed of the superior, occupying his seat, having a higher seat than his, or breaking his assembly,-in short, anything that was likely to show disrespect to the elders, was ever allowed.17
The Sthänānga gives a list of ten kinds of theras, which, it may be noted, takes into consideration not only the church-meaning of the word but also the popular meaning, as will be clear from the following: 18
(1) gāmathera (2) ratthathera
7 those who managed the affairs of the village,
the nation and the city; (3) nagarathera (4) kulathera
those who managed the affairs pertaining to the (5) ganathera (6) sanghathera
kula, gana or the sangha; (7) pasatthārathera the teacher; (8) suyathera
one well-versed in the Samavāyānga etc.; (9) jāithera
one who is sixty years old; (10) pariyāyathera one who has twenty years' standing in monk
hood. It seems, therefore, that the last three in the list had a definite position and designation in the church hierarchy. No mention, however, of the duties of a thera or his other qualifications are to be found in the Anga texts.
nention, however, of the dutie
(c) Uvajjhāya:
The upādhyāya was the chief instructor of a group of monks.19 He gave the reading of the sūtra to the younger monks, and where there was a distinction between the text and its deeper meaning, the students approached the ācārya to get that meaning explained.
It may be noted that earlier texts like the Ācārānga and the Sūtrakrtānga do not give any details about the qualifications or the duties of an upādhyāya. (d) Āyariyaüvajjhāya:
It is not clear whether this phrase denoted two officers-áyariya and uvajjhāya-, or simply one officer. The commentators are also not explicit
17. Smu. p. 59ab. 18. p. 516a.
19. Thān. comm. p. 140a : 'upetyadhīyate'smādityupadhyāyah'; For ref. to upādhyaya : Bhag. p. 382a; Than. p. 142b; Acar. II, 1, 10, 1 (p. 113); II, 3, 3, 4 (p. 146).