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preserve the distinguished works from becoming extinct. The author firmly believes that after learning from one's own Acarya, the monk should accept the discipleship of the other Acarya of the same region and ultimately proceed to visit the other regions for the sake of higher learning. Sometimes the Acaryas themselves not being well-versed in a particular branch of knowledge used to send their disciples to another Acarya who was more versed in that particular branch of knowledge.2
Monks aspiring to master the difficult texts like the Hetusattha or Govimdanijjutti are seen accepting the discipleship of the other Acaryas. While engaged in the study of the distinguished works like Sammadi or Siddhvinicchiya,5 which glorified the philosophy of the Jainas (damsaṇa-pabhāvaga-sattha), monks were allowed to deviate in exceptional cases and were not subjected to any expiatory penances for deviating from the general rules. 6 They were even allowed to go to a verajja ( vairājya ) in order to acquire the knowledge of these damsaṇa-pabhavaga-satthas from an Acarya who was well-versed in such distinguished works. It is evident that the monastic authorities were very keen to ensure that all possible facilities were provided to the monks studying the works of high order."
1. मा तं मुत्तत्थं वोच्छिज्जतु त्ति - NC. 3, p. 202.
2. NC. 4, p. 75.
3. हेतु सत्थ- गोविंदणिज्जुत्ता दियठा उवसंपज्जति - NC 4, p. 96.
4. NC. 3, p. 202; NC. 1, p. 162. Sammadi mentioned in the NC. is same as the Sanmatitarka-prakaraṇa,a book on logic written by Siddhasen: Diväkara in the 6th century A. D.-See infra, Jaina Literature.
5. NC. 1, p. 162. Akalaňka (c. 625-75 A.D.) has also written a book named Siddhiviniscaya. But, according to certain scholars, Siddhiviniscaya mentioned in the NC, is different from the Siddhiviniscaya of Aka lanka and was written by Acarya Sivaswami.-See Siddhiviniscaya, introduction, p. 53; Sanmatitarka, introduction, p. 4.
6. दसणपमावगाणि सत्याणि सिद्धिविणिच्छिय- सम्मतिमादिगेण्हंतो असंथरमाणो जं अकप्पिय पडिसेवति - NC. 1, p. 162.
7. अतो तग्गहणट्याए कप्पति वेरज्जविरुद्धं संकमणं काउंNC. 3, p. 202.
8. Kapadia, op. cit., p. 244.
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