Aspects of Jaina Monasticism

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 40

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The Sāmācārī
act he has to perform for himself or for others. These formalities are called äprcchanā and pratiprcch- anā.35 Āprcchanā is sometimes explained as initial permission and pratiprcchanā as confirmation of that permission or obtaining a fresh permission for what has once been refused. 36
(8) Chandaņā (Skt. Chandanā) :
The eighth type of deportment, chandaņā, is concerned with the invitation of the superior or the fellow monks to take what has been brought, as a monk should not keep anything secret.37
(9) Abbhutthāna (Skt. Abhyutthāna) or nimamtanā (Skt. nimantraņā):
Rendering services to the organi- zation in respect of food, medicine, robes, etc., is called abbhutthāna.38 Sometimes, the expression nimamt- aņa is used in place of abbhutthāna. Nimamtaņā means permission of elders regarding what is to be acquired for them.39
of services which are not available in one's own gaņa.
As regards special study,41 it can be necessary for three reasons, viz. for (i) strengthening the knowledge of what has been studied in one's own gana; (ii) the filling up of the lacunae in the text ; or (iii) the study of a particular text which is not possible in one's own gana. These three purposes are respectively called vattaņā (Skt. vartană), anusamdhanā (Skt. anusandhanā) and gahanam (Skt. grahanam),42 and they fall under jnanaupasampad. Similar purposes may also relate to darśana-upasampad, i.e., going to another gana in order to get clarification regarding darśana (faith). Similarly, one can go to another gana for offering specific services (vaijāvrtja) and performing penance (kşapaņā).43
The above mentioned rules of deportment throw welcome light on the spirit of the monastic organization which was an absolutely voluntary society devoted to selfservice and service of the fellow monks. Theoretically, no monk enjoyed a right for getting service from any other monk. What each monk was entitled to was the duty to serve himself and the fellow monks. Of course, each monk was required to offer voluntary service to his superiors, who, however, did not demand, theoretically, any such services as a matter of right.
Another important aspect of the sāmācārī is the vigilance which a monk was expected to cultivate. At the time of undertaking any
(10) Uvasampayā (Skt. Upasam- pada):
The last type of deportment is called uvasampayā which means approaching a teacher in another gana (group) for acquiring special knowledge on a particular subject for a limited period. 40
Among these ten deportments, the last, viz. upasampadā deserves a detailed exposition. It is resorted to when another gaņa (group) of monks is to be approached for a specific purpose, such as special study of a scripture or special kind