Religion and Culture of the Jains

Author(s): D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta

Page 51

42
RELIGION AND CULTURE OF THE JAINS
Jains have no specific regulations restricting women from becoming followers of this faith. A good number of names of female ascetics and lay disciples are mentioned in inscriptions. In this connection, mention may be made of the Caturvarna-sangha (community of the four classes, viz. ascetics and lay followers of both sexes) referred to in an inscriptions of the Kuşāņa period dated in the year 62 of the Kaņişka or Saka era.
The Jain Kulpasūtra4 + states that the monastic order was divided and subdivided into several gaņas, kulas and sākhās. This is supported by the early inscriptions of Mathurā, which mention certain gaņas, kulas and sākhās and also sambhogas. The gaņas called Koțțiya, Vāraṇa and Ary Odehikiya are mentioned in several records. Inscriptions of the Kuşāņa age not only contain the earliest reference to the Kottiyagana, 46 but also mention it in a large number of cases. 48 The kulas mentioned as belonging to this group include Brahmadāsika, #7 Sthānikīya, 48 Vaccaliya49 and P[r]a[sna]y[ā]ha[na]kaco and its different sākhās likewise include Uccenāgari,51 Āryaveri, : 2 Vairi,63 . Majhamāk 4 and Vidyādhari.56 The sambhogas of
43 Lüders' List, No. 57.
44 SBE, Vol. XXII, pp. 286-94. There are altogether nine ganas with there various kulas and sākhās.
45 Lüders' List, Nos. 18-19.
46 See Luders' List, Nos. 17-20, 22, 23a, 25, 27-29, 32, 36, 39, 45a, 47, 53-54, 56, 73, 75, 77, 84, 89c, 107f, 121-22, 124. Bhandarkar's List, No. 1268 mentioning this gana belongs to the Gupta period.
47 Lüders' List, Nos, 18-20, 23a, 29, 32, 45a, 46, 121-22,
48 Ibid., Nos. 22, 27-28, 36, 39, 53-54, 56, 75, 110, 115 ; Ep. Ind. Vol. X, p. 110 ; JUPHS, Vol. XII (1939), p. 26.
49 Lüders' List, Nos. 25, 107f. 50 Ibid., No. 73. 51 Ibid., Nos. 18-20, 23a, 29, 32, 45a, 46, 71, 77, 119, 121-22. 52 Ibid., Nos. 27, 36.
53 Ibid., Nos. 22, 28, 39, 47, 53-54, 56, 75, 89c; Ep. Ind., Vol. X, p. 110; JUPHS, Vols. XXIV-XXV, p. 219, Aryaveri and Vairi are the appellations of Vajrin in the Kalpasūtra.
54 Lüders' List, No. 73. 55 Bhandarkar's List, No. 1268.