Book Title: History of Jaina Monachism
Author(s): S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute

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Page 496
________________ HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM 491 expiatory penance. It was feared that their teasing would make her indifferent and bold enough to practise sexual acts of her own accord. She was not to be expelled on the grounds that she would harbour hatred against the monks. On the other hand, he who had violated her chastity was to be punished with the help of either the king or the laymen, or the monks themselves were permitted to punish him.182 The attitude of the Church was remarkably sympathetic towards such helpless victims of rape, and these sentiments are clear in the following verse: 183 Ummageņa vi gantur na hoti kim sotavähiņi salilā / Kāleņa phumphugā vi ya viliyate hasahaseūņam // "Does not a river take to the right course even after flowing in a wrong bed? Even the sparks of fire become extinct after some time." DAILY ROUTINE: The daily routine of nuns did not differ from that of the monks as given in the Uttarādhyayana.184 The group of nuns under Suvvayā (suvratā) studied in the first part of the day (padhamāë porisië sajjhāyam karei), in the second they meditated (bīyāë porisīë jhānam jhiyāyaï), and in the third scanned the requisites and cleaned the pots carefully and calmly (taiyāë porisië aturiyamacavalamasambhante muhapottiyaṁ padileheï, bhāyaṇavatthāņi padileheï, bhāyaṇāņi pamajjar, bhāyaṇāņi uggāheï) 185 The description is not complete, but the daily routine of monks and nuns did not differ much. The principal duties in it seem to have been study, meditation, begging, scanning the clothes, 'padikkamana,' kāüssagga', and a short sleep at night. STUDY: Study, therefore, was an important item in the life of a nun. No sooner was she initiated in the Order, she was given instructions in the sacred books of the Canon. We get constant references to the nuns studying the "sāmāïyamāïyāïm ekkārasa angāim ahijjhai."186 Women preachers are often mentioned which included distinguished nuns like Candaņā, the first female disciple of Mahāvīra, and Jayanti the sister of king Sayāṇīya of Kosambi.187 It seems certain, therefore, that the Jaina nuns did not lag behind in education and they were as well educated as their Buddhist counterparts. 182. Ibid., 4129-46. 183. Ibid., 4147. 184. See Chapt. 1 of this Part. 185. Nāyā. comm. p. 187ab. 186. Antg. pp. 29, 53; Nāya. p. 188; p. 249; (N. V. VAIDYA's edition (p. 200) refers to Dovai studying the eleven Angas). 187. Antgd. 8; Bhag. 172, 2, etc. ALTEKAR, A. S., op. cit., pp. 15, 27, 212, Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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