________________
498
S. B. DEO Once the weakness of woman was established and the doors closed for them to get liberation, the Digambaras imposed a strict discipline on the order of nuns. Initiation and Church Administration:
The Digambara texts present scanty information about the organisation of the Church. The Mülācāra which gives a complete picture of the monkorder fails in this respect. It may, therefore, be said that the rules regarding the qualifications of women to enter the order, the ceremony of renunciation, etc. were possibly the same as those in the case of the monks.
Regarding the Church hierarchy also, we fail to get any glimpse of an elaborate system as in the case of the Svetāmbaras with a galaxy of different officers. It does not, however, necessarily imply the absence of such a machinery.
The ganin1228 is often mentioned and she was the supreme head of the group of nuns. Her duties consisted of the management of the moral and practical aspects of the gaña (group) of the nuns.
Another officer mentioned is the 'theri.'229 The word suggests a nun advanced in age and standing. It is difficult to say what exactly her duties were.
For these offices a high standard of moral discipline together with a sound knowledge of the sacred texts and administrative abilities was required.
The nuns were probably divided into groups as the word 'gana' suggests. Besides the gana, there was also the 'gaccha', and these two are described to consist of three and seven persons respectively.230
The nature and the execution of punishments for transgressions of rules by a nun is not so clear here as in the case of the Svetāmbaras. It may be that the Digambaras perhaps neglected the order of nuns on account of their more prejudiced outlook towards woman in general.
Regarding other aspects of nun-life, the Digambaras imposed the same discipline on them as the Svetāmbaras did.
Food and begging:
Nuns in groups of three, five or seven went out for the alms-tour.231 They were always accompanied by old nuns (theri) and were expected to
228. Mül. 4, 178. 229. Ibid., 4, 194. 230. Ibid., 10, 92. 231. Ibid., 4, 194.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
