Jain Journal 1978 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 32

JULY, 1978
live in groups (tolās) in upāsrayas and the houses of the laities, 16 completing the transition from their ancestral or parental solitary arboreal primitive states to a grand dwelling civilized state.
Cultural Evolution of Jaina Sangha :
Although most of the evidence of the path of evolution of Jaina Sangha is gleaned from the actual literary records and archaeological remains, some corroborative evidence comes from its cultural achievements. The study of Jaina culture from the age of Rsabhadeva upto the present day reveals that Jainadharma made a great contribution to Indian culture in various fields. Although the early Jaina Sanghas must have learned to pick up and use temple-stones of a convenient size for vasathis17 and for the Acarya period apparently they learned how to use rajahaaaņa and modern begging bowls, danda, etc.
In the age of the Tirthankara Mahavira there were both sacelaka and acelaka monks, 18 i.e. the direct followers of Mahavira, with the the exception of the converted Parsvapatyas, 19 were generally shorn of clothes, Jinakalpika2° monks did not have any requisite for their monastic life, but Sthavirakalpika 21 monks had a few requisites, such as, clothes, etc. After the demise of Mahavira Jaina Sangha changed the mode of ascetic life according to the conditions of place and time with the evolutionary process of the monastic order. So later on kāşthapātra (wooden begging bowels), danda (stick), rajaharaña (broom), mukhapatti (piece of cloth for covering mouth), clothes, etc. came into use by the monks, particularly the Svetambara monks. Besides, the Mandiramargin monks brought back all paraphernalia of Brahmanical cult for the image worship of the Jinas as the essential requisites. 22 It is to be noted that there was no prohibition to change the monastic system, but the development of it was made by Jaina Sangha or Sanghas with the march of time.
16 Sthanakavasin and Terapanthin monks temporarily reside in the houses of
the Sravakas, but upasrayas are now being built for them also. 17 See Early Mathura Inscriptions; Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela; Dig.
yasathis of monks in South India, and Jaina Silalekha Sangraha, Pts. I-IV. 18 See Uttaradhyayana Sutra 23. 19 Ibid.
"payvajja sikkha payamatthaggahanam ca aniyao vaso i nipphatti ya viharo
samayari thii eva”, Brhatkalpa Sutra, I. 4, Abhidhana Rajendra, p. 1463. 21 "pavajja sikkhavaya-ma atthaggahanam ca aniyao vaso i nipphatti ya viharo,
samayari thii ceva i", Sthananga, 3. 85, Abhidhana Rajendra, p. 1387. Sthavira
kalpina monks have a few requisites. 22 The veracity of this fact can be ascertained if one peeps into the Jaina temples
and sees the articles for image worship for himself.