Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 315

OCTOBER, 1884.]
PAPERS ON SATRUNJAYA AND THE JAINAS.
277
Sarasvati is called the Sasanadevi of all the Tirthamkaras.
2. Sripujyas. Every Gachchha has & Srípkjya or head priest. For those Gachchhas which exist only in name there are no Srfpůjyas; but all existing Gachchhas have head priests. These are appointed by the previous Sripya during his life-time, or in case this is not done, he is appointed by the Sråvakas. Formerly only Samvégis were chosen as Sripajyas. But the offico now-a-days carries much pomp with it, the head priest having a regular establishment of horses, attendants, &c. For this the Samvôgis despise the office, and now only Jatis are chosen to the position. The duties of a Sripájya are to buy Brahmaş boys, and instruct them in the Jaina religion, rearing them as Jatis, and to send them to preach the Jaina religion to the public. These Šripajyas themselves go in circuit, discourse with the Sravakas, and convert people.
3. Saskavégis and Yatis. The Yatis or Jatis are ascetics or devotees, analogous to the Brâhmana Sannyasis. There are two classes of these among the JainasSastvégis and Jatis.
'Samvégis are Śrávakas or born Jainas, who, in old age, or at any time they like, renounce the world and become Samvegis. They do not receive ordination, as the Jatis do, from their Sripajya or head priest. They themselves become so at their pleasure. The Samvégi is initiated thus :-He is conducted out of the town by crowds of Srávakas with musio and joy; he is placed beneath a tree having milky juice, generally the Baniyan, Vad or Mious Indica, and there, surrounded by a circle composed exclusively of Samvegis, who pull out the hairs of his locks in five pulls ;' applying camphor, mask, sandal, saffron, and sugar to the place. He is next stripped naked and placed before another Samvegi who pronounces this mantra in his ear:
कमि भंतेसाभाइयं, सावज बोग पञ्चखामि बाव (जीवेण तिविहेण तिविहेण) मणेणं वायाए, कारण न करोमि, नकारवेमि तस्स भंते पडिकमामि, निदामि गरिहामि, अप्पाणं वासिरामि, इति ॥'
In the Parsvandtha Charita, Parbranatha is describod m tearing five handfuls of hair from his head on beooming devotee. Conf. Dolamnine, Trans. Roy. Asiat. Soc. vol. I, p. 488.
These Samvegis avoid all pomp, live on alms, put on dyed clothes, have no fixed dwelling places, but wander about the country, preaching to the public about the Jains religion and making converts.
After becoming Samvegis, they pull out hair from their heads in five locks also once a year, on the day of Chhavachchari; and they may do 80 at any other time they choose. These Samvegis are the only Jaina Sanny asis in the true sense of the word.
The second class - Jatis, are more numerous than the former. The Jatia are sometimes the children of WAņiyas or Kuşbis, who often devote them from their infancy; now-a-days the children of poor Brihmans are bought largely for this purpose; and occasionally they are dedicated in consequence of vows made by Waniyas without children, who promise their first-born to their Sripůjys or high priest, in hopes of obtaining further posterity. Whilst young the Jati is placed under a Gara, for wbom he performs many domestic services. At proper age he is initiated in the same way as the Samvegi, only his hair is not pulled ont in five looks. His Guru takos only five hairs for form's sake, and his head is afterwards clean shaved. Instead of Samvegi, his Guru pro nounces the initiation mantra in his ear. He then receives the cloth of Jati- pure white cloth (Guj, chalota, Sans., chivara)-of yard and a half for his loins, one of two and a half yards for his head, a kambali (Sans. kambala) or country blanket for his body, a tripunior waterpot, a plate or pdtra for his victuals, cloth to tie them up in, a black rod (danda) to guard himself from hurt but not to injure others, and rajuharana or besom (Guj. Agha), to sweep the ground with. He does not return to his Guru's residence till the next day. He lives on charity, and procures his food ready dressed from the houses of Srivakas, Brihmaņas or others. He may purchase dressed food, but may not dress it for himself; he must not eat or drink while the gun is below the horizon; he must abstain from all roots, as yams, onions, &c., and from butter and honey (mdvights, madhu, makha, and mad). The Jatis wear loose clothing, with their heads bare, and their hair and beards clipped ; and
* This same mantra, except the part enoloned in braoketa, is repeated daily by every. Srhvaks before beginning his prayer. For the bracketed portion ho rabatitates-forrh,
T ena, g rant II