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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
353 his knees fell to a length of seven 'vitastis', i.e. immediately after sunrise. He closed his study at the same time in the evening.
It may be noted that this length of the shadow varied with different seasons, and the monk was to close down his study in the morning according to the following system:
Shadow of the leg below the knees.
2 padas 2 , + 4 angulas
2 = 3 padas 3 , + 2 »
+
+
+
Month. Aşādha Śrāvana Āśvina Kārttika Mārgaśīrşa Pausa Māgha Phālguna Caitra Vaišākha Jyeștha Aşādha
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= 4 padas
W co Coc co CNN
1
1
== 3 padas
1
1 1
= 2 padas
1
The Improper Occasions of Study:
There were times when, owing to climatic difficulties or natural phenomena like the eclipse, etc. study was not permitted to the monks. It may be noted that the list of such occasions agrees with that given in the Sthānānga.
The Place of Study:
Such places as were likely to lead to mental disturbance or the violation of moral conduct were avoided by monks. Hence a place which contained blood, impurities or flesh within a distance of hundred hands were deemed unfit for study.
The Texts:
It may be noted that the rules regarding the stoppage of study were applicable only to the reading of the texts ascribed to the gañadharas, pratyekabuddhas, śrutakevalins and the daśapūrvins. All other texts like those dealing with the seventeenfold death, hymns in praise of the dignitaries, the essential duties and biographies of religious saints were allowed to be read at all times. BULL. DCRI.-45
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