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Jaina Acāra : Siddhanta aura Swarūpa
139 Sixteen years' stay because of his new sect Jivaprādesikavāda: In Lord Mahavira's Order there were 1,59,000 monks like Sankha and 'Sataka and 3,18,000 nuns like Sulasā and Revati. Self-control, discipline and management were given equal importance so as not to impede individual growth nor hurt the group interest. The nuns' control was in the hands of his first disciple Candanabalā. Those violating ordinances were punished in the form of expiation and reinitiation. In Mahavira's time no clear demarcation of administrative duties has been mentioned. It was obviously a later development, for earlier there was no mention of even Upadhyāya (a spiritual teacher).
As the organisation began to develop, there were various activities which attracted the attention of dignitaries and the teaching of holy scriptures, others with administrative jobs and skill,others with the propagation of Jainism by delivering religious discourses at different places. Others selected worthy novices for initiation.
The Chedasūtras have mentioned seven positions. We shall take them one by one :
(1) Acārya or the spiritual guide and head preceptor. He must be a practitioner of right knowledge, faith and conduct. He who violates the fourth great vow does not deserve to hold this high office. A diplomat using duplicity and subterfuges cannot be given this post. He who imparts perverse knowledge does not deserve even to be a monk not to being a head. He must possess good qualities, tact and be strict in administration but without any malice or rancour. The entire responsibility of the Order rests on his shoulders. Much depends on how he leads his followers. As the rays of the sun dispel darkness, so he removes ignorance.As Indra is among gods, he is among monks. Sayambhava says that the head of a monastery distributes drops of nectar contained in scriptures so does the moon when she is in her full glory. She is decked by planets and stars. She imparts coolness to the scorched world and is delightful to all. Ksamāsramana says that he is like an airconditioned room of an emperor ruling over a vast kingdom. Neither winter nor summer can affect it. So also the head preceptor is moved neither by pleasure nor by. sorrow. Favourable or unfavourable circumstances are alike to him. He is not only a holy person himself but also moulds the lives of others. An erudite scholar himself he teaches scriptures to others, solves their problems and purifies their intellect. Like an 'āmla' fruit he augments blood in the form of knowledge, is sweet like grapes, tasteful like 'Khira' (a preparation of rice and milk boiled together) and juicy like a sugarcane.
Abhayadeva says that he knows full well both concise text and its meaning and inner significance. He is gifted with auspicious signs. He is the beacon light for the Federation. Calm and composed himself, he shows the
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