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RELIGION
303
the NC. these various types of ascetics have been grouped into two main groups, viz. the Brāhmaṇas ( Mahana ) and the Sramaņas ( Samana ).1 The first group must have consisted of the Saivite and the Vaişņavite ascetics ( see-Brāhmaṇic Religion ), while the latter consisted of the five classes of the Samaņas, viz. (i) Ņiggartha, Sāhu or Khamana, (ii) Sakka, (iii) Távasa, (iv) Geruā or Parivāyaga and (v) Ājīvaga. (i) Niggamtha-Nigga mtha Samaņas were she Jaina monks who followed the path or order of the Jainas ( Jaina-śāsana,: painatantra ). Various sects and subsects existed among the Jainas during this time The seven schisms ( ņihmava ) led by Jamāli, Tissagutta, Āsādha, Assamitta, Gañga, Rohagutta and Gotthāmāhila have been referred to in the Nisītha Bhāșya. Schism between the Svetāmbaras and the Digambarase was the most substantial one which was finally recognised by this time. Digambaras ( sky-clad or naked ) have been usually called as Bodiya,' while the Svetā mbaras were known as Seyavaças 8 (Sveta pața ) or Seya-bhikkhus. Among the Śvetāmbaras also there were the monks following the Jinakalpa or the Sthavirakalpa mode of life 10 and also the ascetics of the lower grade known as Pāsattha, Kusila, Osanna, Samatta and Nitiya because of their respective mental attitude or spiritual status. Pāsatthas were originally the followers of Pārsva, but the term Pāsattha later came to be used in the sense of
ascetics of all the sects lived and studied together.-Bana, Harsa
carita, Tr. p. 236, text pp. 265-66. 1. NC. 1, p. 13. 2. समणसद्दो इमेसु ठितो-णिग्गंथा साधू खमणा वा, सक्का रत्तपडा, तावसा वणवासिणो,
TESTT TARTIT, 3715ftanti–NC. 3, p. 414, 3, NO. 1, p. 17. 4. NO. 3, p. 390. 5. N. Bha. 5596 -5624 ( NC. 4, pp. 101-3). 6. Ibid. 7, NC. 4, p. 102. 8. NC. 1, p. 78. 9. NO. 3, p. 422; NC. 4, p. 87. 10. NO. 1, p. 131.
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