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S. B. DEO
Besides such reasons, a monk could leave the gaccha if he was wellversed and qualified enough to accept the 'Jinakalpika' mode of life, the procedure of which was as follows:
Before entering this mode of life, one had to study the 'Jinakalpācāra' and compare it with the normal mode of monk life. The monk had to practise the 'utkuțukāsana,' and sit or lie on bare slabs of stone, as he was required to do as a 'Jinakalpika' monk. Then, on an auspicious place, time, day, nakşatra and mental mood, on gathering the sangha or at least one's relatives, the monk accepted Jinakalpatva' at the hands of either a Tirthankara, or a ganadhara, or a 'caturdaśapūrvadhara' or a 'daśapūrvadhara.' If neither of these was available, the monk could do so under a banyan or an Asoka tree.
If the candidate accepting Jinakalpatva was an acārya, then he installed somebody else in his place to look after the gaccha. The newly appointed ācārya was asked to respect the opinion of those who deserved it. Then the previous ācārya left the place and went to a lonely place with his bowl and other requisites, if any, as it was left to him whether to remain naked or otherwise. The rest of the monks accompanied him to some distance to bid him. a farewell, and they returned when he could not be seen.50
The Growth of the Gacchas :
Inspite of frequent reference to the gaccha, the commentarial literature does not seem to refer to various gacchas with their names. The non-exegetical and the postcanonical literature, however, refers to such gacchas here and there. But the Praśastis refer to numerous gacchas.51 BÜHLER52 mentions the tradition which says that the eighty-four gacchas originated with the disciples of Uddyotanasūri in about the 10th cent. A.D.
In this connection, it may be noted that even though the gaccha as a unit appears to go back to the period of the Niryuktis, it is not to be found with any designation, either regional or personal, or with any peculiarity of monastic practice, till possibly the 9th or the 10th century A.D. on the evidence of epigraphical sources available at present.
Other Units :
Other minor units like the 'phaddaga,'53 'sambhoga'54 and the 'man. dalī55 even though referred to in the commentarial literature, seem to have
50. Ibid. Vol. II, 1363-77. 51. See the end of this chapter. 52. The Indian Sect of the Jainas, p. 77. 53. Ogha-N. bhā. 111; Brh. kalp. bha., Vol. III, 2132-36. 54. Ogha-N. vr. p. 16a; Brh, kalp. bhā. Vol. II, p. 475; Vol. III, v. 3282. 55. Ibid., Vol. V, 5542.
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