________________
Retrospect
377
world, Jainism is still a living faith in India though it never spread outside India with the exception perhaps of Ceylon. Let us see, in breif, the reasons responsible for the continuous survival of Jainas in India.
3. REASONS FOR SURVIVAL OF JAINAS Perhaps the most important reason which contributed to the continued existence of the Jaina community to the present day is the excellent organisation of the community. The significant part of the Jaina organisation is the fact that the laity has been made an integral part of the community. The community has been traditionally divided into four groups, viz., Sadhus or male ascetics, Sadhvis or female ascetics, Srāvakas or male laity and Śrāvikās or female laity, and these groups have been bound togehter by very close relations.122 The same Vratas or religious vows are prescribed for ascetics and laity with only difference that the ascetics have to observe them more scrupulously while the laity is allowed to follow them in a less severe manner. The laity is made completely responsible for the livelihood of the ascetics and to that extent the latter are dependent on the foi mer. From the beginning ascetics have controlled the religious life of the lay disciples and the lay disciples have kept a strict control over the character of the ascetics. That is why the ascetics are required to keep themselves entirely aloof from worldly matters and to rigorously maintain their high standard of ascetic life. If they fall short of their requirements they are likely to be removed from their positions.123 Instances of excommunication of Jaina Sadhus for the breach of .the rules of conduct are still common in Gujarātha and Rājasthan.124 As an ascetic is generally attached to a Gana or section and Gachchha or sub-section of Jainas and naturally persons belonging to a particular Gaņa or Gachchha can control the ascetics of their Gaņa or Gachchha. Thus, for example, the Tapā Gachchha ascetics are controlled by the Tapā Gachchha people. Recently many of these Gachchhas have written constitutions of their sections and in that they assert this right also. In the rules and regulations framed in 1941 of the Lokā Gachchha of Bombay City it has been specifically mentioned that, “If any of the ascetics or Sripujya (i. e. the head of a group of ascetics behaves against the tenets and customs of the Lokā Gachchha Sangha, the general body of members of the sangha shall have power to remove such ascetics.
