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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
Method of Education
Education imparted to the monks was called sikkha and it was to be acquired by a labourious process. Education of the monks was two-fold: (i) gahana-sikkha and (ii) asevana-sikkha.1 In the commentary on the Visesavasyaka Bhasya (p. 9, v. 7) by Maladhāri Hemacandra the gahaṇa-sikkha is explained as the study of the Sutras or committing them to memory ( gahana ).2 This was followed by the study of its artha (meaning) for a period of twelve years." The education was considered complete only when the monk had understood the Sutras thoroughly.
Five-fold Study
For a thorough understanding and retention of the scriptural lore to memory, a five-fold system of study (sajjhaya*svadhyaya) was practised by the Jainas. These were: (i) vayana-teaching of the text by an Acarya or learning one's lesson, (ii) pucchana--questioning the teacher in order to clear one's doubts, (iii) pariyaṭṭaṇā-repetition, (iv) aṇuppehameditation or thinking intently and (v) dhammakaha-religious discourses or imparting religious sermons.5
Arunovavaya etc. in the 12th, Utthanasuya etc. in the 13th, Asīvisabhavana, Diṭṭhivisabhavana, Caraṇabhavana, Mahasumiṇabhāvaṇā and Teyanisagga from 14th to 18th and Ditthivaya in the 19th, and thus the monk mastered the whole canon in a period lasting over twenty years.--Vide, Jaina Sahitya ka Brhad Itihasa, Vol. 1, intro. pp. 38-39.
1. सा सिक्खा दुविहाआसेवणसिक्खा गहणसिक्खा य । - NC 3, p. 251.; Bh. V. 2, P. 257.
2. तत्र द्वादश वर्षाणि यावत सूत्रं त्वयाऽध्येतव्यमित्युपदेशो ग्रहणशिक्षा, आसेवनाशिक्षा तु प्रत्युपेक्षणादिक्रियोपदेशः ।
3. Ibid.
4. NC. 1, p. 18; Tattvarthadhigamasutra, IX. 25, Umäsväti's Bhāṣya 1, p. 259.
5. सज्झाएत्ति वायणा पुच्छणा परियट्टणा अणुप्पेहा धम्मका य - NC. 1, p. 18.
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