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Commoner ascetic practices are also mentioned in the Nikaya.si, Out of them, Nabhikatari (refusing to accept the food cspecially prepared for them ), is related to the eleventh stage of Jaina House-holder called Uddistatyaga. Pratima.
From these indirect references we come to the conclusion. that at that time no such name was given to the vratis. How ever, it shows that there were some types of categories of vratis. Jaina Monachism
After completing the practice of Anuvratas and Pratimas, a house-holder seeks permission from his relatives to renounce completely mundane atlairs and become a Jaina wonk. Tben after worshipping pañca Parameşthins (Ashanta, Siddha, Acarya Upūdhyāya, and Sadhu ) he requests the Ganin to admit him into his Order. Being accepted by the Gapin, be pulls out his hair and becomes a completely naked ascetic according to the Digambara tradition.
There were at first no caste restrictions to be a Jaina monk, but later on Brāhmaṇa, Ksatriya, and vaisys are said to have been preferred.42 Robbers, sick persons, slaves, blinds, debtors. etc. are not to be admitted into the Order.43
The new monk makes gradual progress in monkhood and attains the position of Sthavira, Upadhyaya Acārya, Ganadhara. and pravarlaka 44 There are three Monastic Units which are recoguized by the Jainas :
(i) Gana consists of at least three monks and maximum a thousand.45 It is a unit made up of many kulas parasparasapeksanekakulasamudāyah ).46
(ii) Kula forms the Gana ( ganah kuldsamudayaḥ 147. (iii) Gaccka consists of seven monks (saptapuruşako gacchah
It is under a particular Ācārya (Guruparivärah. 149 The entire Order consists of monks, nuns, laymen, and women, and is called Sangha. If one breaks any rules or regulations, he should observe Prāyaściltas like Alocana, Pratikramapa.
