________________
278
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1884.
they ought never to bathe; but now-a-days they do so. Sometimes they live together in pôsalas (pôsddasálas), and ever after a Jati has left one of these, he yields a sort of allegiance to the Guruji or head of the Posala.
The Jatis are not Sannyåsis in the real sense of the word. They are fond of pomps, silver and bronze vessels, and cloths with ornamental borders. Many of the Jatis are traders, and always carry money with them. They neglect púja; though it is their duty to read and expound the Jaina Sástras to the Sråvakas at the temples, they never perform any of the religious ceremonies. Some Jatis have concubines, whom they seclude in villages, but do not bring into the larger towns. Morally they are not a good lot.
4. The Girnis. Girmis or Sadhvís are the nans of the Jainas. A girl, according to their Smritis, must at least have attained the age of nine to become a Girņi; but practically the age at which they become nuns is between 15 and 17. They become Girņis with the permission of their guardians; if married the woman must obtain the permission of her husband, in which case the latter can marry again; but these rules are not always observed. Thus a girl, a married woman, as well as a widow, may become a Sadhvi. If once she becomes a nun, she must continue so throughout life.
The place where the nuns live is called an Upasara. According to the Sdstras not less than three nuns must occupy an Upåsara ; but when there are only two nuns, the rule is not considered broken. There is a head nun in every Upasara, called the Pravartini. She is appointed by the Acharya. One of the Girņis is chosen to that post on the ground either of long residence in the Upåsara, or of learning, or of austerity. The Girni appointed Pravartini on account of her learning is called Sutathavirá, (Sans. śrutasthavirá); if on account of age, Vayathavira; if on account of austerity, Tapathavirá. The Girņis wear four cloths, an outer one called kapada, a nether cloth called sada, a langya or langothi, and a chauli or bodice. Kambalas, or woollen blankets, and ásanathey carry for covering themselves and sitting apon. They also carry a stick called danda or dando.
When they go out they wear a mohopti (Sans. mulchaguptı), or mouth-band. They perform Pratikramana, or the repetition of prayers twice a day; go and listen to the Acharyas discourses ; examine their clothes twice a day, and carefully remove any vermin. This is called Padilihana. When one of them perceives an insect she must not blow it out, lest it die, but remove it carefully, so as not to endanger its life. This they do before cowries called Acharyasthápanas (or acting Acharyas). They beg their meals, and may not cook, -for touching fire is strictly prohibited. The five elements are supposed to have life, and fire being an element has also life. Hence the objection to touch it.
When going to beg they carry three or five vessels placed in a wallet hung round the wrist. A cloth, folded more or less, according to the geason, is thrown over the wallet. This cloth is called Palla ; in sommer it is folded into two, in the dewy season into four, and in the rainy season into five. They beg every day, except on fast days. In Ahmadábåd they beg only from Śråvakas' houses. In Northern India at any house. They receive hot water cooled from Śråvakas for their drink. If anything is left after their meals, they mix it in sand, in order that it may not rot and breed insects.
Their bed is called Santara. It is made either of straw or a kambala. In the rainy season they sleep on planks. Their night is divided into three parts, ydmas or watches. In the first watch they talk with the Sråvikas. In the second yáma they sleep; and in the third yáma self-contemplation or Sajyadhana (Sang. Savddhyayana dhyána) is performed. This however is very rarely done, except by the most learned; but in place of it they devote themselves to the recollection of what was taught them the previous day by the Achårya.
5. The Eternal Tirthamkaras. Like the Chiramjini's, or eternal existing sages of the Brahmaņa religion, the Jainas also believe in Sasvata or eternal Tirthakaras. But while the Hindas have seven the Jainas have only four, Their names are :
1. ft Rikhabhånanda. 2. चन्द्रानन्द Chandrananda.
3. वारिखेण Varikhepa. and 4. AT Vardhamana.
