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
The aim of the programme is to give a thorough kowledge of the Agamas and of the doctrine, some grounding in Prākrit, Sanskrit and Hindi and some knowledge of culture in general. There are five hours of classes per day, with individual study taking place in the evenings. During the two months' summer-vacation the sãdhvis depart on vihāra; thus, even during a period of sedentary life, they resume each year their itinerant existence. Two pandits reside in Ghātkopar and devote themselves to this teaching, aided by a lady professor. 70
The Principal of the Vidyapitha is a sādhvi and it is she who acts as guruni. When their courses are finished, some sādhvis prolong their stay for a certain period and themselves give courses of instruction, while others work on translations.
We may note three particular features of the Sramaņi Vidyapitha, this new institution for the anagăris:
- the five years of stability with a set programme to follow and examinations to take; - the great number of vairāgiņis among the students, already during these recent years, more than half the total number;71
- the study of several Agamas by all the sādhvis and vairāgiņis, wheareas, according to tradition, the ascetics used to study the Agamas only gradually, in a certain order and after dikşā.72
All this testifies to a great openness of spirit on the part of the founders, to a clear vision on their part of both present and future
70 The salaries of the professors, as well as the costs of the canteen for the vairāginis and the general expenditures, are undertaken by the central samgha of Mumbai. This has as constituent members 20 regional samghas, who contribute regular sums to cover expenses. Here we have a concrete example of interdependence within the caturvidhasamgha.
71 In 1976 there were 46 students of which 18 were sādhvis and 28 vairāginis
72 Cf. VS X, 24-38.