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
of his hand.675 It seems, however, that the monks carried a pot (kundikā). for water used after answering calls of nature.676 Bedding :
The bedding (santhāra) 677 consisted of either bare ground (bhūmi), or a slab of stone (silā), or a plank of wood (phalaga), or dry grass (tiņa).
Besides these the monk possessed nothing else and all other things or valuables like pearls, conches, skins, ivory and kambala (blanket) were deemed unfit for him.678
In handling all the requisites permitted to him, he was very careful and wiped the places of occupation with the feather-broom (picchikā) to avoid himsā.679 Residence :
The same rules as in the case of the Svetāmbaras were followed by the Digambaras also inasmuch as the monks were asked to avoid residences full of women, eunuchs, beasts and bad characters.680 Any places which were specially built for monks, places which were likely to make them passionate, regions which had no king or where the king was wicked, were avoided by monks.681
But the whole tone of thought seemed to favour the opinion that the monk should live a very solitary life away from the society. He was recommended to take resort to caves, or forests or roots of trees or deserted houses or burning grounds.682
Only such places as were favourable to the perfect practice of study, meditation and celibacy were to be resorted to.683 BEGGING AND FOOD:
Seeking an ideal residence, the monk went out to obtain proper food for the maintenance of the body.
675. SBE. XXII, p. 260. 676. Mül. comm. pt. I, p. 19, 677. Ibid., 4, 172: comm. pt. I, p. 148; Bodhapähuda, 56. 678. Mul, Chapt. 1, comm. pt. I, p. 14. 679. Ibid., 5, 122. 680. Ibid., 9, 19; Bodhapähuda, 56: See UPADHYE, Introduction, Prv. pp. XXXI-II. 681. Mül. 10, 58-60.
682. Ibid., 9, 21-22; Bodhapähuda, 42, 51; even a 'matha' or a monastery was not allowed: Mül. comm. on 10, 18, p. 104 (pt. II).
683. Bodhapähuda, 57; C. R. JAIN gives the list of forty-six faults of improper residence, exactly after the fashion of the faults pertaining to food: op. cit. pp. 137-138.