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"The monks were endowed with knowledge, with vision, with conduct,, with humility and with simplicity. They were endowed with oration, brilliance, speech and fame. They had conquered senses, slumber and hardships. They had no expectation from life and no fear from death. They were experts in arts like prajnapti, etc., and in the use of mantras. They were excellent, wise, restrained from sex, truthful and clean. They wore a beautiful complexion. They had overcome all the worldly desires. They were above all curiosities, careful about the observance of rules prescribed for a monk and experts in breaking both the external and internal ties. They were well-acquainted with their own philosophies as well as those of others. They were foremost in defeating their rivals who held different views. They new well the 12 Angas and were the masters of all the ganipitakas. They knew all word-formations and all languages. Although they were not yet complete jinas, they were very much near them" (27).
The life-story of many monks and nuns remains scattered here and there in the entire Agamic literature from which it is possible to gather their individual traits.
8. Dhanya of Kākanai - Dhanya of Kākandi became a monk by giving up 32 young maidens and 32 seraglios. Under the guidance of Mahavira, he practised very severe penances so that his body was reduced to a mere skeleton. On a point of enquiry about him by King Bimbisāra, Mahāvira said, in part, as follows:
"In a group of 14,000 monks, this monk Dhanya is about to perform something most difficult by dint of his penances, his spiritual exertions "(24).
9. Meghakumāra - During the first night after his initiation, Meghakumāra, the son of King Bimbisāra, deviated from his path. Thought he,
"Till yesterday, when I was a prince, all the monks took care of me and expressed their affection and respect for me. Today, I have become a monk, but
| SR No. | 022804 |
| Book Title | Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nagaraj Muni |
| Publisher | Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Total Pages | 804 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 19 MB |