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

Page 380

HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
375
fallen to the background as the references to them are scanty as well as their explanations add no new information. And we get the references only to the Gaccha, śākha and the Kula in abundance in later literature,
Monastic Jurisprudence:
Texts like the Brhatkalpabhāsya, the Jitakalpabhāsya, the Mahāniśītha, the Cūrņis, and the Vimsativimśikā56 describe the same ten types of punishments which formed the basis of monastic jurisprudence in the canonical texts.
Inspite of that, however, these texts seem to bring to prominence an elaborate system of expiatory fasts like the 'caturlaghu,' 'caturguru,' 'māsalaghu,' 'māsaguru,' (which were distinguished further as 'kālalaghu' or ''guru,' and 'tapolaghu' or 'guru'), and the 'pañcarāïndiya' which the transgressor had to undergo for purification.
The Cūrņi to the Byhatkalpabhāşya (V, 359), according the SCHÜERING,57 explains 'vavahāra' (the procedure of treating the transgressor), as expiatory fasts of varied durations which were divided into nine categories like the following: Name of the punishment
Duration Nature of the fast Guruö
1 month
Atthameņa Gurugatarão
4 months Dasameņa Ahāguruö
6 months Duvālasameņa Lahuo
30 days
Chatthena Lahutarão
25 days
Caütthena Ahā-lahuo
20 days
Āyambilena Lahusao
15 days
Egaţthaņeņa Lahusatarão
10 days
Purimaddhena Ahālahusao
5 days
Nivvīëņa
These punishments increased with the degree of severity of the fault as will be clear from the following example: 58
As against the normal rule of not accepting a raw fruit, if a monk accepted it
in a settlement (niveśana), then he had to face 'catvāro laghavah'; in a pāțaka, then 'catvāro guravah'; in a row of houses,. . şadlaghavah';
56. 16, 12ff. 57. See I.A. Vol. 39, p. 207, fn. 45. 58. Brh, kalp. bha., Vol. I, 786.