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392
S. B. DEO In cases of famine or other calamities, if a nun happened to be alone, then she was allowed to go to some other village only in the company of other women, or with a group of men and women, or with related males. 111
Touring and Rainy Season :
In the four months of the rainy season, however, the practice of staying at one place still continued, as it is so even now.
The monks discontinued this stay when the rains stopped. They were forbidden to leave the place earlier in normal circumstances. They were especially disallowed to go about on the 'kārttikī mahotsava' when people indulging in merry-making were likely to dislike the sight of a shaven monk.112 Thus, it seems that the Church was conscious of the habits and the opinions of the society around it.
Exceptions :
Under exceptional circumstances the monks could leave their place of stay even during the rainy season. These circumstances were the following:
(1) Asiva - Divine calamity, (2) Omoyariä scarcity of alms, (3) Rāyaduttha - trouble from the king, (4) Bhaä
fear (from the thieves), (5) Gelanna
coming to know the news about the illness of a
co-monk, (6) Abāhā
mental trouble, (7) Dubbhikkha - famine, (8) Dakaugha - flood.
It may be noted that under such circumstances as well as in attacks by the enemy, the monks were given concessions to leave the place immediately even in the rainy season.113
RESIDENCE:
We have already noted the procedure in searching out a proper residence as given in the Niryuktis. The Byhatkalpabhāşya repeats more or
111. Brh. kalp. bha., Vol. V, 5934. 112. Ibid. Vol. II, 1449-1451.
113. Ibid. Vol. III, 2738-39; Ogha-N. bhā. 26. In this case, the instance of the Mālavas kidnapping the people from Ujjain is given.
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