Mahanisiha Studies And Edition In Germany

Author(s): Chandrabhal Tripathi
Publisher: Chandrabhal Tripathi

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MAHĀNISĪHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
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Accuya heaven. The life as a monk offers the singular opportunity to attain the highest goal; one should not miss it.
22-24. vss.69-106. Episodes from Mahāvira's life, when he was venerated by Gods. At the end their source is mentioned. Vss. 107-110 justify prolixity by referring to the good impression they create on the laity.
25. The conclusion consists of important remarks from the view-point of textual history (see 19.4).
26-30. Resumes the theme of Sec.11. After the panca-mangala, the iriyā-vahiyā is the object of study. Most probably the formula iriyāvahiyāe padikkamaņam is implied, as it is a part of the Pratikramaņa-sūtra and refers to the confession of all faults (aticāras) which are possible while performing the daily duties. It is studied like the Pancamangala. Thereafter follow the Sakka-tthava, the Arahanta-, Cauvisa- and Nāņa-tthaya with various rules about fasting. All this happens in the sacred place. When the monk has a clear mind about these texts, he recites them for the first time, on an auspicious day, in the presence of his teacher, brother monks and the laity; thereafter the teacher delivers a sermon. Now onwards the monk repeats the formulae thrice a day. Only after his prayers in the morning, he can drink water; after those at noon, he can have his meals. In the evening, the prayer should be completed before the sun sets. In continuation of the ceremony, the teacher recites an utterance and puts seven handfuls of perfumed powders (vāsa-kṣepa) on the head of the novice saying nitthāraga-pārago bhavejjāsi. The community does the same with the addition dhanno sampuņņa-lakkhaņo si tumam. Thereafter the teacher blesses him with a garland offered previously to the Jina and delivers a short address. Thanks to his good deeds in previous existences he has now attained human birth; the doors to hell and lower animal forms are closed for him; all lower karman is destroyed. The panca-namokkāra will create a new one in the next life; and this is the last life in which he will be neither a slave nor poor nor mentally imperfect.
31. Like the panca-mangala the other sacred texts beginning with the Sāmāyika are to be studied, only small differences exist. For monks in tender age, fasting is obligatory, in rules for study, however, some concessions are allowed. Fasting and study should correspond to each other so that some benefit towards new existence might be