Sambodhi 1976 Vol 05

SR No.: 520755
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 416
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 12 MB

Page 111

A NEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION OF A PROBLEM
OF JAINA MONASTIC DISCIPLINE
K. K. Dixit
Dr. Colette Caillat's degree thesis dealing with the problem of expiation as understood by the Jaina religious authorities and originally appearing in 1965) in her mother-tongue French is now available to an English translation competently made ? Based on a painstaking study of the first three chapters of the monastic-disciplinary text Vyavabārasutra (along with its standard Prakrit and Sanskrit commentarses) as also on that of a vast mass of contemporary writings on Iadology the work provides much food for thought for the students of Jainism in particular and Indian culture in general It is divided into three parts of uneven length but each having a distinct significance of its own. Thus the first part (pp. 3-22) takes up two relatively independent questions ---Viz (1) In what relationship does Jainism stand to the other religious sects of India-particularly Buddhism and Brahmanism ? and (2) "Which and of what sort are the Jaina texts devoted to the problems of monastic discipline ?', on the other hand, the second part (pp. 23-65) brings to light the characteristic features of the Jaina monastic life while the third (pp. 66–187) investigates into the way the Jainas look at the problem of expiation. An outstanding merit of Dr. Caillat's performance is that hardly any of the 1980 es raised by her 10 the whole course of her present study 18 of a secondary importance, this becomes evident from a close study of the bare titles of her different chapters (as also from that of the six brief paragraphs of her Foreword). Besides, the issues thus raised have been arranged 13 an order that much facilitates a comprehension of the total picture ander study. The only pity is that Dr Caillat does not consider it possible that a historical study be made of her subject-matter, But significantly enough in connection with the expiation technically called paribara’ she herself bestows enough consideration on matters pertaining to history, and in view of the crucial position occupied by the concept of 'parlbara' in the Jaina's thought-world that virtually amounts to seeking to trace the historical evo. lution of the Jaina concept of expiation as such. In any case, in the following part by part examination of Dr. Caillat's total thesis an attempt is being made to view in a historical perspective the issues raised there; she who has already quoted with approval (pp 77) R. Williams' observation The changelessness of Jainism is no more than a myth, should, we hope wolcome such a supplimentation made to her own so valuable research work, 1 Atonements in Ancient Ritual of The Jarna Mooks, Pub. L. D. Instituto
of Indology, Ahmedabad-9, 1975