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JAINA MONASTIC JURISPRUDENCE
49 of the service of the elders and happened to commit a transgression of certain rules of monastic conduct, then in view of the circumstances under which such a fault was committed, the elders 'proceeded towards him in the lightest way' (ahālahusde nāma vavahāre, Kalp. V, 53).
The severity or otherwise of the punishment depended on the nature of the transgression committed. For instance, 'kula-pārāñcika' was prescribed in certain cases which involved the expulsion of the monk from the kula. Similar expulsion from gana and samgha under pārāñcika. depended on the severity of the fault (Bșh. kalp. bhā., Vol. V, 512). For instance, for covering the head with a garment in the fashion of a turban, a monk was punished with *māsalaghu'; for covering both the shoulders like that of a nun 'catvāro laghavaḥ' was prescribed; for arranging the the ends of a garment on two shoulders for decoration involved the punishment to the extent of 'catvāro gurumāsāḥ'; and for dressing up oneself like that of a householder involved 'mūla' punishment (Brh. kalp. bhā., Vol. I, 152).
Besides this, the severity of punishment increased with the responsible position which the transgressor occupied in the church hierarchy. For instance, monks were disallowed to stay in a place full of seeds. But if a new entrant to the order violated this rule then it was punished with 'laghu māsa' which was not severe in point of either duration or fasting, whereas the same fault done by an ūcārya, made him liable for the same punishment which was severe in duration as well as in fasting. Thus persons in responsibility were punished the more because they failed to carry out the proper rule in spite of full knowTedge of it.
The major prāyaścittas were prescribed and judged only by the most senior member of the group who was wellversed in monastic discipline. For instance, 'cheda' was prescribed only for major faults like being proud of one's penance, or failing to carry out penances properly, or for having no faith in austerities, or for non-control even with austerities,or for indulging in sexual intercourse and
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