Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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54 Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution
of the meeting of the Acela Nirgrantha-samgha of Mahāvīra and the Sacela-samgha of Pārsva's descendants was prepared under the leadership of Gautama and Keśī in Śrāvasti. The fact that the greatest number of 'rainy season retreats' (cāturmāsas) of Mahāvīra were held at Rajgir while those of Buddha were held in Śrāvasti, is proof of this. South India being climatically warmer in comparison to the north, it was not difficult for the monks of Nirgrantha-samgha to observe the practice of not wearing clothes (i.e.acelakatva). The Nirgrantha-samgha of the north could not retain its original practice of acelakatva and started to cover their body with one piece of cloth, partly because of the climatic conditions of the north and partly because of the influence of the descendents of Pārsva. Besides, North-Indians are more comfortloving by nature than the Southerners. In the Buddhist tradition also the request for conveniences was made by the Vatsiputra Bhiksus who belonged to Terai region of the north. The Pitaka literature of the Buddhists talks of Nirgranthas as Śāṭaka i.e one who has clothing and Ājīvakas as naked. This also indicates the fact that the north-Indian Nirgrantha-samgha had started keeping at least one piece of cloth serving a two fold purpose (i) protection from cold and (ii) to avoid the stigma of nakedness.