Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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The Unknown Pilgrims
have a certain degree of autonomy and are open-minded.26 As for the Tapagaccha sadhvis, a fair number are still under the tutelage of orthodox ācāryas and live in a society which is little favourable to the emancipation of women. However, from this gaccha have emerged certain remarkable sadhvis who must have braved innumerable difficulties before managing to do some study and acquire a certain independence, while still remaining in the gaccha.27 On the whole, the acaryas śravikās and śrāvakas, once they have overcome their initial hesitation, admire them. However, it takes exceptional courage to free oneself from secular prejudices and this courage is given only to a few outstanding sadhvis, who then inspire others with the same, so that little by little the number of liberal-minded ones increases.
A vairāgini, whether a grown woman or a girl, who feels herself called to the ascetic life, chooses the guruni whom she desires for guide. The candidate makes a longer or shorter probation in the group and, after being included in their number by the acarya and the samgha, she is consecrated through the ceremony of dikṣā. Henceforward and for the remainder of her life she forms part of the Śramanisaṁgha and the group which has received her. However, if there are valid reasons, the ācārya may permit her to change groups. 28 In the case of a serious offence, it can come about that a sadhvi is expelled from the gaccha;29 it is possible, then, for her to receive dikṣā anew, but she will have to recommence the stages of her life as an ascetic. In other cases, a sadhvi can freely request to leave the
26 Cf. P 571 ff.; 584 ff.
27 Sadhvi Mṛgavāti Śri and Sadhvi Nirmālā (P 557 ff.) are cases in point, to quote only 2 examples.
28 Cf. BrkS IV, 20, which gives factors which might favour a change of gana, which would correspond to the present-day gaccha; nowadays, changes, which are rather rare, take place within the same gaccha.
29 Cf. P 515; 519 ff.