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NOTES AND NEWS
157
There is apparently no positive information about this question, but several undeniable facts seem to point to the bastis as centres of education for the Jaina community. An inscription in the Hosa Basti at Mudbidri, South Kanara, speaks of the Jain community of that place in the following terms : " Even the children were enthusiastic in the practice of sastras, found enjoyment in worship and charity. The women were all devoted to their husbands." (12th Annual Report of Karnatak Sahitya Sammelana, p. 152). There is no reason to suppose that there is any exaggeration in this eulogy. The Jainas were a highly cultured community and their society was guided by high ethical ideals. But how and where were these ideals and culture inculcated among the Jainas ?
Another epigraph at the same place alludes to "the gift of sastras" (Sastra-dana) on the fifth day of each month. (Ibid., p. 157). It is natural to suppose that these gifts were made to persons of merit. How was this merit ascertained ?
We hear of intellectual and religio-philosphical contests held at the courts of kings where Jaina scholars and teachers distinguished themselves by their logic and learning. (Cf. Ep. Cam., VIII, Sa, 163, 154; Nr, 46, etc.) Where did these scholars receive their training ?
The large collections of MSS. on a variety of subjects still found in the Jaina bastis seem to indicate that they were the real centres of all this education and culture. Bastis must originally have been dwelling places of the yatis or ascetic teachers. Their disciples (sravakas or hearers) included among them lay men and women, who came to them for spiritual as well as secular enlightenment. That the culture of these gurus was not one sided is proved by the large number of secular books found in their libraries, and also by the fact that some among them (e.g. Simhanandacharya) took active part in political affairs. Pujyapada wrote on medicine and grammar. An analysis of the list of MSS. in each Jaina library will indicate the subjects of study ; whereas the predominance of a certain kind of literature (e.g. Puranas), as indicated by duplicates found invariably in almost all Jaina libraries will show the popularity of a particular
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
