Jain Journal 1978 07

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

Page 38

JULY, 1978
South-eastern Jaina Sangha is characterized by straight coarses of Jaina culture in Kalinga, 56 while the classic Eastern Jaina Sanghas are found in Bengal. 57 It is difficult to make generalization about the mental and physical and monastic superiority of any modern Jaina Sangha. Firstly, no Jaina Sangha clings to its original characteristics. Jaina Sangha's evolutionary history is one of continuous intermixture of Sanghas, as the monks migrated or joined other Sanghas 58 or they absorbed the members of their neighbouring Sanghas 59 or were absorbed by them.
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Secondly, the testing of intelligence and phychological and monastic traits of any Sangha is vastly complicated by the difficulty of differentiating between inherited and environmental influences. The benefits of a good environment are incalculable.
Jaina Sanghas are found sometimes to be a victim of pride and prejudice in regard to their respective monastic rules and regulations and modes of ascetic life and conduct.60
56 See Hathigumpha Inscriptions of king Kharavela of Kalinga and other Jaina cave temples in Orissa, e.g. Udayagiri.
57 e.g. Godasagana, Kotivarsika, Tamraliptika, etc. See Kalpasutra Sthaviravali. 58 e.g. Kanjisvami who was once a Svetambara monk has now become a Digambara monk on his conviction of the philosophy of Acarya Kundakunda.
59 It is known from the Pattavalis that sometimes some Murtipujaka monks became Sthanakavasin and sometimes some Sthanakavasin monks became Murtipujaka monks and were absorbed in the Murtipujaka Sangha, e.g. Bhanaji Rsi became Tapagacchi from Lonkagaccha, Terapanthin Sesamalji became a Sthanakavasin monk.
[To be Continued]
60 Any personal contact of an impartial observer with a modern Jaina Sangha will reveal this fact.