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274 P
Shri Jain Conference Herald.
the time of Akbar in the middle of the 16th century; but since then one i brought in its train another.
Both संवेगी साधुs and यतीs receive दीक्षा on entering the order, but the former observe the tenets prescribed by religion very strictly, always travel by foot, never keep any sort of connection with women and do not keep a single pie with them. In most respects yatis are loose in such matters.
air is conferred on a novice at any age, generally after he is twelve, but in most cases after sixteen. The ceremonies to be performed at the time of entering the order are very complex and you will find it in. Good many formulo are to be recited on the occasion. The qualification for being initiated in the order by er is strict from mundane affairs.
Formerly the Shripujas represented the highest pontiffs in the religious order. In a sense their power over the monks was akin to that of the Pope amongst the Catholic. Owing to their looseness in the religious observances the powers have dwindled down of late.
All such points can be satisfactorily understood by personal inquiries which you can conveniently pursue by coming down to India once.
With reference to your second letter dated 9th August regarding the date of Haribhadra I thank you very much for the frankness with which you admit that your arguments in the matter are not conclusive. The difficulty about accounting for a ominous blank of three centuries can only be solved by more researches. At this juncture with our present historical knowledge we find that there are such blanks in the Jain history at stated intervals. The same kind of blank we meet with after Hemchandra and another we meet with after Yashovijayji. The analogy of course does not warrant us in saying that there was such a blank after Haribhadra, but one thing most certainly comes out and it is this viz whether you put Haribhadra on this side accordingly to my calculation or on the other side according to your calculation. The blank of not less than two centuries remains during which
