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
after which the sadhvis' itinerary and its successive stages will be settled with a view to the place chosen for the căturmäsya,consideration being given to the place where there are local sarnghas, which would render possible a halt in an upāśraya or elsewhere and meetings with śrávakas and śrāvikās. These latter are delighted at the arrival of sadhvis in their midst. The news spreads very quickly, the more so because the great majority of the Jaina community is engaged in commerce and as a religious community is very well organised. The śrävakas telephone one another to announce the news. Very often, when sådhvis arrive in a town where the samgha is of considerable size, many śrāvakas and śrāvikās come out to welcome them and escort them in procession as far as the upāśraya.8 In the same way, when they leave the town for their next stage, they accompany them for a certain distance. When they have a long journey to make before they reach the place where they are to sojoum during the cãturmāsya, a śrävaka of that district very often comes to meet them and gives them exact instructions as to the road to take and the upăśrayas or lodging-places at the various stages on the way. When at certain halting-places, the local samgha belongs to a different sampradaya from that of the sādhvis, they are nearly always received hospitably. If, as does happen on occasion, there is no Jaina family at one of their halts, the sådhvis have recommended to them in advance an äśrama, house or school where they will find hospitality. 10
8 Cf. in ch.6 the arrival of Sadhvi Punya at Gväliyara (Sajjana, 1960, pp. 367-371); of Mahāsati Mohanadevi at Jammü; at Rävalapiņdi (Hukamadevi, pp. 120; 123); of Sadhvi Vicakşaņa at Amaravati (Rāmapuriya, 1966, pp. 339-348).
9 A guide for munis and sådhvis has recently been published: vihāra mārga darśana, giving exact details about possible routes, the distances between towns, with names of villages, the number of houses, upāśrayas and refuges. This very useful guide goes so far as to supply commonly used phrases in the principal regional-languages.
10 Cf. P 440 ff.