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 following were the units :
(a) Gana :
The gaña seems to have been the largest unit. In antiquity also, it was said to go back even to pre-Mahāvīra Tirthańkaras.45
The gana is explained by the commentators as 'samānavācanākriyaḥ sādhusamudāyaḥ' (a group of monks having a common reading).46 Other explanation of the gaña is 'kulasamudayah' (group of kulas).47 But it is interesting to note that the commentators equate it with the 'gaccha' which finds place in the later parts of the Canon,48 but nowhere in the Angas proper. A more definite statement is to be found in the commentary on the Bhagavatī49 which says that the gaña was formed of three kulas.
Thus the texts themselves are silent over the nature of the gana. Inspite of this, however, we come across rules regarding the reasons that made a monk change his gana, and the persons qualified to look after a gana.
Persons endowed with six qualities were deemed fit to manage the affairs of a gana. They were expected to be persons full of faith (sadąhī), truthful (sacce), well-controlled (mehāvī), capable (sattimam) devoid of quarrels with, or ill feeling towards, anybody (appādhikarana), and learned (bahussuya).50
The monk was not allowed to change his gana within six months.51 A monk doing so was termed as the 'gānanganiya'.52 But, the monks were allowed to go to another gana for all sorts of subjective reasons. The reasons were as follow553 :
(1) to gain higher knowledge (savvadhammā rotemi), (2) to practise a stricter mode of conduct (egatitā roëmi egasya ņo
roëmi), (3) to get doubts dispelled (savvadhammă vitigicchămi), (4) to practise the 'egallavihārapadimā,' (5) to acquire requisites (savvadhammā juhuņāmi ?).
45. Smv. pp. 54, 61, 66, 68, 69, 71, 84, 86, 88, 90 for the gaņas of various Tirthankaras; Gana in Bhag. 231b; Thän. p. 352a; Uttar. XVII, 17.
46. 'Som. comm. p. 14b. 47. Than. comm. p. 516a. 48. Ibid., pp. 3316, 340a, 386a etc. 49. comm. p. 382b. 50. Than. p. 352a. 51. Svm. pp. 39ab, 40b. 52. Uttar. 17, 17. 53. Thăn. p. 381a: Interpretation by Muni KEVALAVIJAYAJI.