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

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Page 572
________________ HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM 567 beras. For, according to another epigraph dated c. 1118 A.D. we have an account of "a report (that) was spread abroad in the naḍs, that in the towns he (ie., Vinayanandin Yati of Surastha Gana) went among the women devotees". The same epigraph, however, adds that on inquiry that report was found to be false. On the contrary the monk was found to treat "women as his mothers".468 Similar instances were taking place among the Svetämbaras as well. For instance, in V.S. 995, Devagupta Süri of Upakeśa Gaccha being very much addicted to playing on lute was dismissed from the headship of the In V. S. 1154, Kakka Süri had to expel lax monks from the same gaccha,470 and in V.S. 1582, Ananda Vimala Süri had to lay down a new set of rules to reform the conduct of the monks of the Tapa Gaccha.417 The liberality of the laity as well as of the royal patrons may be said. to have led to this slackening of self-control. We have already referred to an instance of an acarya granting a piece of land to his own disciple out of those granted for a temple. Later on, we have an instance of Vikramasimha of the Kacchapaghatas of Dubkund giving a grant of land not only for the purpose of worship and repairs of the temple, but also for oil for lamps and for anointing the bodies of holy men 1472 Another factor to be noted is that many monks seem to have been married men in their pre-monkhood period of life. For, we have references to the sons and daughters of these.413 Probably both the father and the son or daughter renounced the world together, and hence their relations. were mentioned in epigraphs even after their accepting the monk or the nun-life. Therefore has a mention been found to the relations of their preascetic life. THE ORDER OF NUNS: Along with the monks, epigraphs refer to a number of nuns belonging to the Svetämbara and the Digambara sects. We have already noticed that as early as in the first-second centuries of the Christian era, the Jaina Church had a number of nuns as revealed in the Mathura inscriptions. 468. Ibid., IV, Nāg. 19. 469. HOERNLE, op. cit., XIX, p. 240. 470. Ibid., p. 241. 471. E.I., II, p. 51, vv. 10-11. 472. Ibid., pp. 232-40: (A.D. 1088). 473. Nāṇabbekanti daughter of Abhinandipanditadeva: E.C., VI, Kd. 1, of 971 A.D.; Damanandi Muni's eldest son: Ibid., II, 65 of 1176 A.D. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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