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

Page 494

The Unknown Pilgrims
the pronouncing of the five mahāvratas in accordance with the text of the Daśavaikālika-sutra, the words being repeated one by one after the ācārya.66
466
After the Great dikṣā the new sadhvi is a full member of the śramanisaṁgha. She starts her long pilgrimage in the steps of the arhats and all the sages.
D - Sikşǎ-kendras: Study-centres
The śikṣā-kendras are centres of study, the word study being here understood almost entirely in the sense of the Scriptures, the doctrine and philosophy along with related subjects, such as the study of Prakrit and Sanskrit. In order to practise svādhyāya and be capable of instructing others in the doctrine, the sadhvis must necessarily study; this is not an optional extra. The young sädhvis are taught by the guruni with the assistance, as and when required, of other sadhvis and under the close, or less close, supervision of the ācārya. This remains the normal practice, which is faithful to the tradition and still current today. Moreover, the gurunis endeavour to organise in such a way that the sadhvis can profit by the caturmāsya, the months of remaining stationary, to study under one or other ăcărya or muni who is on the spot or to have the benefit of lessons from a pandit. There are some isolated cases of a sadhvi studying and preparing for examinations privately, but initiatives of this sort are few and far between. For many years already the necessity has been felt for some organised centres where the sadhvis may receive regular instruction.67 These centres for anagāris contain features and ways of operating peculiar to themselves.
a) Pathaśālās: Schools
66 Cf. DS IV, 11-15; P 337 ff.
67 Out of 100 sädhvis questioned about their level of education before dikṣā: 4 had a college education; 7 had studied Sanskrit; 14 had a High school education; 56 (of village origin) up to the middle-school level; 19 (of whom several were of mature years) had scarcely been to school at all, having been prevented by family or social conditions, cf. Bordiya, 1975, pp. 272-273.