Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

SR No.: 006725
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 170
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 46

Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India
chastity--must be made a separate vow, quite distinct from the Aparigraha vow of Pārsvanātha. 63
Referring to this reformation in the Jaina order by Mahāvira Jacobi observes: "The argumentation in the text presupposes a decay of the morals of the monastic order to have occurred between Pārśva and Mahavira, and this is possible only on the assumption of sufficient interval of time having elapsed between the last two tirthankaras, and this perfectly agrees with the common tradition that Mahāvira came 250 years after Pārśva "61
The Kalpa-sūtra65 informs us that Pārśva had organised the Jaina order by bringing all his disciples under eight classes, each headed by a Ganadhara. The mention of nuns and lay women suggests that he did not neglect women. The Nāyā-dhammakahā o 66 speaks of a number of lay women who became followers of Pārsva's religion. It also narrates the story of an old maiden called Kāli who joined the ascetic order of Pārsva.67 Pupphacũlā, the chief lady disciple of Pārsva, converted one Bhūyā, the daughter of a merchant of Rājagrha called Sudarśana, to this religion.68 All these evidences tend us to believe that Pārśva had no hesitation to allow women to embrace the ascetic life.
Pārsva's four vows show that he based his order of monks on solid moral principles and his first vow of aliiinsa suggests that he raised his voice of protest against the animal sacrifices of Vedic Brāhmaṇas. The concept of alirsā is in a distinct manner analysed in an earlier part of the Acūrānga-sütra. "Some slay (animals) for sacrificial purposes, some kill for the sake of their skin, some kill for the sake of their blood, thus for the sake of their heart, their teeth, their tusks, their sinews, their bones; with a purpose or without a purpose. Some kill animals because they have been wounded by them, or are wounded or will be wounded.
“He who injures these (animals) docs not comprehend and renounce the sinful acts; he who does not injure these, comprehends and renounces the sinful acts. Knowing them, a wise man should not act sinfully towards animals, nor cause others to act so, nor allow others to act so. He who knows these causes of sin relating to animals, is called a reward-knowing sage."69
In fact, the Jaina community had spread well even in those early days throughout a large part of northern India. "His Jainism prevailed from Bengal to Gujarat. The districts Maldah and Bogra were great centres of his faith "70