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The Teachings of Arhat Pārsva and the Distinctness of his Sect
keep on wandering was essential in Mahāvīra's but was optional in Pārsva's disciplinary code. Again, Mahāvīra had stressed that an ascetic must stay on at one place during the four months of the rainy season; in Pārsva's tradition this practice was also optional.
According to Mahāvīra an aspirant to friarhood must be initiated probationally. After this testing period, if he is proven eligible, then he may be allowed to be ordinated second time and his seniority was fixed accordingly in the Order or Samgha.
These are some of the distinctive features of Pārsva's philosophy, teachings, and monastic discipline as can be traced out from the early literature. The belief that all Jinas teach the same code of conduct, and that the ascetics of the Pārsva's Order had become wayward by Mahāvīra's time receives no support from the evidence locked in the earlier canonical books.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
1. See Epigrapbia Indica, Vol. X. Appendix. A list of Brāhmi Inscriptions S.N. 110, p. 20. 2. Kalpasūtra 216. In the various inscriptions of Kankāli Țilā, Mathurā, we have two readings about
this kula of the Kottiya-gaņa: (1) Thāniya-kula (2) Sthāniya-kula. While in the Kalpasūtra we have
a third reading, Vāņijja-kula. 3. Preserved in the Government Museum, Lucknow. 4. This date is after the recent researches by Gritli v. Mitterwallner. 5. Cf. U.P. Shah, Studies in Jaina Art, Varanasi 1955, plate 1, fig. 3. 6. Me Kate ime viyāpata hobonti ti niganțbesu Pi — Inscription No. 7, line 16, Delhi-Topara
Inscription 7. See G.P. Malalasekere, Dictionary of Pali-Proper names, Vol. II, London 1974, pp. 61-65. 8. Hermann Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, Part II, (S.B.E. Vol. XLV), Introduction, p. xxi. 9. (A) Caüfjñame niyanthe - Isibhâsiyāiñ, 31.
(B) Cauijāmo ya jo dhammo jo imo pamcasikkio - Uttaradhyayana 23/12. 10. See Pt. Sukhalal, Cara Tirtharkara (Hindi), (sec. edn.), Varanasi 1989, pp. 141-43. See also
"Introduction", the Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XXII, p. xliv. 11. Isibhāsiyāin, 31. 12. Acaranga II, 15/25. 13. Sūtrakrtānga II. 7/8. 14. Vyākhyāprajñapti 1/9/21-24; 2/5/95; 5/9/254-255. 15. Jñātādharma-kathā 2/3/1-6. 16. Uttarādhyayana 23. 17. Rajapradesiya 2/3.
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