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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
371
The Vrşabha:
He remained junior both to the ācārya as well as to the upādhyāya as he had to get up out of respect to both these higher officers.33 We have already seen that the Oghaniryukti commentary explains him as being 'vaiyavrtyakaranasamarthah'.
The Pravartin :
He was junior to the ācārya but looked after the requirements of the members of a gaccha.34
It is difficult to make out the distinction between a bhikṣu (khuddaga) and a sthavira (thera). Whether the sthavira meant simply an old monk or whether he had an independent status in the Church hierarchy cannot be said.
The kşullaka was a young novice having a less standing as a monk than the sthavira who was advanced in age and who, therefore, occupied a position of respect in the hierarchy. Possibly a bhikṣu and a kşullaka were identical.
Church Units :
The monks were divided into the following units which, it may be noted, were not exclusive but were inter-connected with one another.
(a) The Gana :
The gana, as we have already noted, was a unit made up of many kulas (parasparasāpekşānekakulasamudayah).35
The exact strength of a gana was five. (ekaikasmin gana pañca pañca puruşā bhavanti).36 It may be noted that an earlier text, Mülācāra, belonging to the Digambaras, describes in its commentary the gana to be a group of three people.37 The maximum number of the members of a gaña was a thousand.38
That the monks were constantly in the habit of changing the gana is perhaps evident from remarks against it.39 This we have already marked in the canonical texts also.
33. Ibid. IV, 4459-68. 34. Ibid. I, 615. 35. Ibid, vr. on 2780, Vol. III. 36. Ibid. Vol. II, p. 430. 37. Mül. 10, 92.
38. Utkarşataḥ puruşapramāņam sahasraprthaktvam-Brh. kalp. bha. vr on 1443, Vol. II.
39. Niśithacūrni (Mss.) 8, refers to 'paragaộiccaya' or Øya-a monk or nun who keeps contact with members of another gana-Päiyasaddamahannavo, p. 671.
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