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PART IV
CHAPTER 1
JAINA MONACHISM FROM EPIGRAPHS
Introduction
We have up till now dealt with the literary sources. This chapter deals with the information available regarding the actual working of Jaina monachism as revealed in Jaina and non-Jaina epigraphs from the period of Asoka upto the 17th cent. A.D.
But the details regarding the spread of Jainism have not been dealt with here as they have already been utilised in an earlier chapter.
Nature of Epigraphical Sources:
Literary sources have described the state of Jaina monachism at different periods. But the details of its working from a historical point of view can be augmented only by contemporary historical documents. Inscriptional evidence is only a part of such an evidence.
Epigraphical references are of two kinds. Some are old; others are late, one may say, even modern. The former have been used in checking the early literary evidence. The latter explain not only slow but constant growth in the constitution of Jainism and some of the factors behind it.
It may also be made clear here that even though the praśastis do not belong exactly to the category of inscriptions, they may very well be termed literary inscriptions as they sometimes give account of historical facts. Hence their material is included in this chapter.
In dealing with this material the same plan as the one resorted to while dealing with the literary sources is to be adopted. Hence, we shall study the evidence from epigraphs item by item,
THE CHURCH: (a) Hierarchy:
Mathurā inscriptions may be said to provide the earliest information on this point. These epigraphs reveal an organised Church as they men
BULL, DCRI.-65
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