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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
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(11) the physician, and (12) one whose body was besmeared with ash or dust.
If any one of such persons was seen at the time of starting from the tour, then the tour was supposed to turn out fruitless.
On the other hand, if the monks happened to see or hear the following signs, then their tour was hoped to be successful :
(1) hearing the sound of a trumpet, (2) seeing a filled pitcher, (3) hearing the sound of a drum or of a conch, (4) seeing chowries and umbrellas, (5) seeing a vehicle, (6) seeing a monk, (7) seeing a devoted layman, (8) seeing flowers, or (9) modaks, or (10) curds, or (11) fish, or (12) a bell, or (13) flags.89
Besides these omens, the following items favourable for the ācārya (sūri) were taken into consideration :
(a) Favourable candrabala or tārābala, 90 (b) the tithi, karaṇa, and muhurta.
The fourth, sixth, eighth, ninth and the twelfth days of the dark and bright fortnights were taken to be favourable for tour.91
It may be noted here that many of these details are similar to that found in the Ganividyāprakīrņaka.
How to Start :
Looking to all these factors, the monks decided to start on their tour. The young, old and princely monks were to take only as much luggage with
89. Ibid. Vol. II, 1547-50; Ogha-N. bhā. 83-86.
The latter text adds the sights of a woman on the verge of delivery, of a dog crossing one from the left to the right side, of an aged virgin, and of a man bent down due to heavy load as bad omens.
90. Bịh. kalp. bha. Vol. III, 2894. 91. Vav. bha. p. 40a.
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