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S. B. DEO
know the nature of the faults and the prāyaścittas for them, and the pravartini was to inform the same to the nuns under her.34
Gaņāvaccheïņā (gaņāvacchedinī):
As the very name suggests, she controlled a part of a group (gana) of the nuns. It appears that she was subordinate to the pravartini. Her duties were those of gaṇāvaccedaka among the monks.
Her position in the Church hierarchy is not clear as it is described differently in different texts. Sometimes she follows immediately the pravartini and then the abhişekā comes,35 sometimes she 'is altogether dropped in the list.
No clear idea about her duties in the order can be had, but she was not as highly rated or put confidence into as the pravartini as is clear from the rule which lays down that she was to remain with three other nuns—while the pravartini with only two-in winter and summer, and in the company of four others in the rainy season.36
Abhisegā (abhişekā):
She is to be met with in the Brhatkalpabhāşya. Sometimes she is equated with the gañinī,37 sometimes simply explained as 'pravartinīpadayogyā'; fit for the office of a ganin7,38 while in some places she comes after the pravaratinī.39 It is very difficult, therefore, to understand her exact nature and the duties she was expected to do. It may be that she was next to a pravartinī or to a gañinī in point of respect by others, if not of authority.
Therī (sthavirā):
As in the case of some of the other officers, her place was also not certain in the church hierarchy as in some places she is mentioned after bhikkhuņi and in some other places before her.40 Her designation suggests the factor of age in her case as 'theri' means an old nun.
34. Bļh. kalp. bhā. Vol. V, 6048 (comm.). 35. Ibid., Vol. III, pravartini, gañāvacchedinī, abhişekā and bhikṣuņi. 36. Vav. 5, 3-4, 5, 9-10. 37. Brh. kalp. bhā. III, 2410 (comm.). 38. Ibid., Vol. IV, 4339 (comm.). 39. Ibid., Vol. III, 2407 (comm.). 40. Ibid., Vol. IV, 4339 (comm.); III, 2407 (comm.).
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