Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 006567
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 306
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 48

THE SALIENT FEATURES OF JAINA ACARA
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train novices', he also managed for the lodging place and the material needs of the Order?. According to one of the Angas he was the only male officer who had to take care of the Order of nuns. It was therefore natural that only a person of high moral character having the knowledge of the Sthānanga and the Samavāyā nga Sutras, and at least of eight years standing in monkhood was appointed to this post, 4
The Angas and the Malasūtras ascribe an inferior position to upadhyāyacompared with that of the Chedasūtrass which count him as one of the three protectors of nuns. As the only duty of the upādhyāya was to teach novices, a monk at least of three years standing having a sound knowledge of the scriptures along with their exposition was to be posted to this office ?
From the qualifications and experience of the acaryopadhyā ya it is evident that he was an officer holding a position higher than the upadhyāya and lower than the ācāryas, and accordingly he looked after the duties of the ācārya or of the upādhyāya when either of them was absent or busy with some other works. The ganin was an officer of the same rank as the ganadhara. No specific mention about the exact position of the ganā vacchedakall and the pravartini 12 has been made in any of the texts. In all probability, the pravartini enjoyed the same position in the Order of nuns as the acārya in the Order of monks
The Jaina Order of nuns: Now it is most opportune to make a rief reference to the Jaina Order of nuns. According to the Svetāmbara tradition, the Order of nuns is an old as the prehistoric first Tirthankara Rsabha whose following comprised, the Jainas believe, 300000 nunsy, even several times greater than that of Mahāvīra which
1. Thān, 320, pp 239b-240a refers to four types of acargas; Vav, 10.11-12
refers to eight types of acāryas. 2. Ibid, 544, p. 385b. 3. Bhag, 339, p. 382a. 4. Vav, 3.7. 5. Ayar (SBE. Vol. XXII), 2.1.10.1 (p. 113); 2.3.3.4 (p. 146); Bhag, 339, p. 382a;
tatrācāryaḥ arthavyākhyātā, upādh yāyaḥ sūtradātā.-Comm. to Bhag,
p. 382b. 6. Vav, 3. 12. 7. Ibid, 3.3-4; 10.21, 8. Ibid, 3.5; 10.20. 9. Vide HJM, p. 220. 10. Dasā, 4th dasā; Comm. to Thán, p. 140a; HJM, pp. 148, 225. 11. Vav, 3 7. 12. Bhag, 334, pp. 375ab; Byhk, 1.41; Vav, 5.1. 13. Kapp (SBE. Vol. XXII) pp. 211-12.