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 448

HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
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to give up his entire clothing (nāgnya). He was then given the requisites like the peacock-feather broom (piccha). After that he was instructed regarding the duties of a Sādhu which deprived him of bath, teeth-cleaning, and clothes (vicelatā).290
Thus he became a probationary member of the Church; and only pure and proper conduct later qualified for confirmation.
The Paryāya :
The seniority of a monk was counted generally by the number of years he had spent in monk-life as also by his moral qualifications and administrative capacity.
The bhikṣu291 or the sādhū292 became either a ‘rādiņía 293 or a laghiya'294 according as he had spent a greater or a lesser number of years in monklife. He had to spend the period of probation under a guru who made him perfect in the practice of monastic discipline.
This guru was either the 'dikşāguru' or the 'śrutaguru'.295 The former gave him instructions, while the latter initiated him into monkhood.296
The Hierarchy :
Once the novice had complete mastery over the scriptures, and had acclimatized himself to monastic life, he could aspire for higher posts in the Church hierarchy.
The Anagāradharmāmīta refers to various officers of the Church, like the 'suri', 'pravartin', 'upādhyāya', 'ganin', 'sthavira' and the 'rātnika'.297 The 'ācārya' and the 'gañadhara' are also mentioned in many places.298
It may be noted here that this list does not give any new names, as all these are to be found in the Mülācāra, as we have already seen.
290. Angd. 9, 83; See also account from the Adipurāna, Chapt. 38, as given by GLASEN APP, in Guj. Transl. of his Der Jainismus, p. 438; also pp. 432-5.
291. Angd. 6, 83. 292. Ibid. 6, 45: explained by comm. as 'cirapravrajitamunī', p. 406. 293. Ibid. p. 517. 294. Ibid. 9, 82: 'dikşaya laghutarah', comm. p. 676. 295. The 'śrutasüri' is also mentioned: Ibid. 9, 2. 296. Ibid. 7, 77; comm. p. 517. 297. Ibid. 8, 50: comm. p. 575. 298. Ibid. pp. 516, 521, etc.; 7, 73.