Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 556

THE RELIGIOUS' PRAYAŚCITTAS : 95
the monk "of the rule of the theras," who, normally, is not allowed to be alone, the jinakappiya goes about on his own, naked, without any belongings, steadily bearing all inconveniences, restricting his alms-begging in many ways (time, food, space) 22 As far as possible, he conforms to what has been Mahavira's practice, during the twelve years after his enlightenment, when he lived as a homeless ascetic.23
This solitude of the jinakappiya (which is so strictly forbidden to the therakappiya) can well be looked upon as an archaic feature. For many, it was well-nigh unbearable.24
There is no doubt that the yathalanda-pratimă is archaic and quite obsolete. For the Pravacanasara 25 relates its disposals with due reserve : itthañ távad asmábhir vyākhyātam (174 a 4) !
The ahålandiyas observe various restrictions, especially as far as time is concerned26: they never beg in one and the same area for more than five days (ibid. 612 f.). Their status appears to be intermediary between that of the therakappiya and that of the jinakappiya. They live five together at the very most.27 Two degrees seem to be recognized according to their proficiency: some still need coaching, and therefore keep links with the gana, or rather with its āyariya, while others are absolutely free from all ties.28
The ahālandiya and the jinakappiya rank as attacinta (atmacintaka): not being hindered by any other task, they concentrate upon their own self: exerting themselves, they pursue a common aim, they try to gain delivery, pratipattu-kāmāḥ (VavȚ IV' 41 b 7).
In the same manner, the pärihāriya is exhorted to be regardless of his fellows, and to devote himself to his own spiritual progress, att'attha-cintaga.29 In many respects, the atonement called parihara tends to impart the benefits of the jinakappa without altogether depriving the monk of the advantages of the therakappa which he normally follows. Just like the jinakalpa and the yathālandapratimā, this obseryance is probably but a survival. In a sense, it looks like a sort of
22 Cf. K p. 47, quoting Abhayadeva; Jacobi, SBE 22, 57 n. 2;
Schubring, Worte Mahāvīras 100. 23 Cf. Ayār 1, 29 f.; 40 ff.; Schubring, Worte 115 ff. 24 Cf. infra. Compare, among the Buddhists, Majjhima Nikaya 1, 17 ff. 25 Gāthā 611-628, p. 172 b - 176 a. 26 landam tu hoi kālo, Pravacana 611; cf. 612. 27 panc'eva hoi gaccho tesim ukkosa-parimānam, ibid. 613; cf. 173 a. 28 gacche pratibaddha apratibaddhāśca, ibid. 173 a 14. 29 VayBh 1, 363. Cf. VavŢ III 30 b.