Compendium of Jainism

Author(s): T K Tukol, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Prasaranga Karnatak University Dharwar

Page 65

ArTER MAHAVIRA AND THE SCHISM
53
Digambaras
The ideal ascetics of this sect are naked. They possess a small bunch of peacock feathers (piccha) for the purpose of delicately moving aside living insects etc if there be any before sitting on a ground or a plank. They also carry a kamandalu or a kind of wooden pot for water which they carry when they go out to answer the calls of nature. They take food only once by the use of their palms joined together to serve as a plate. Though it had been enjoined that they should stay in gardens and uninhabited house, they have started staying in villages and towns. Guņabhadra has expressed his displeasure in regard to this change of life. This laxity seems to have continued until some monks started living in temples. This did not develop into a regular practice as in the case of Svetāmbaras.
Even amongst the Digambaras, some groups or Sanghas seem to have developed. Mula Sangha seems to have been popular as it is mentioned in some of the inscriptions at Śravanabeļagoļa. During the time of Indranandi, Sanghas like Vira, Aparājita Sena, Bhadra Simha, Candra etc. seem to have come into existence in course of time. They received recognition at the time of Arhadbali. In Vikrama Şamvat 753 Kumar Sena Muni established the Kāstha Sangha. They starteb using a bunch (piccha) of hair of cattle-tail instead of feather's of peacocks. They used to initiate women as nuns and administer the oath of celebacy to them. Two hundred years later, a Sangha known as Mathurāsangha came to be founded in Mathura. The monks of this Sangha dispensed with piccha
Itogether. One Vajrasuri seems to have started a Sangha by name Drāvida-sangha. Though there was laxity in their conduct, they used to have temples repaired and receive gifts of lands etc. for the use of temples.
Sub-sects amongst Digambaras
There are three sub-sects amongst the Digambaras. viz. (1) Terāhapantha (2) Bisapantha and (3) Tārāṇapantha. There