Schools and Sects in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Amulyachandra Sen
Publisher: Vishwa Bharati Calcutta

Page 48

PART III.
RELIGIOUS SECTS. Besides philosophical schools the literature of the Jainas has interesting information regarding various kinds of religious sects.
A sect believed abstention from salt or garlic, onion, young camel's milk, beef, and liquors as the path of perfection",
A sect believed in the use of cold water for bath and ablutions as the path of perfection 2
Some ascetics believed that by tending a fire they would reach perfection'
Hatthi-tāvasas. They used to kill an elephant with arrows and lived many months on its flesh. The motive was to spare the lives of other animals for as long as the flesh of the elephant would last. They claimed that they committed but one sin, the killing of the elephant, in a year or so which was counterbalanced by the merit earned by not killing other lives during this time114.
Bäla-tāvasas. They lived only by eating leaves that fell off naturally from trecs'
Kandappiyas. They earned a living by performing antics and making people laugh by making various movements with the eyebrows, mouth, teeth, lips, hands, feet, and ears. They made others laugh but did not laugh themselves".
Caragas. They went about begging and carried a dhāți"? They went out to beg only after meal'18, says Hemacandra in his commentary on the Anuyogadvāra.
The names of the following sects are mentioned in long lists of ascetical orders in several places??
Kibbisivas. They went about speaking ill of religious teachers and holy people.
111 Sūt. S. I.vii.12. 111 Sat. S. 1.vii.12. 114 Süt. S. I.vii. 12. 114 Bhag. S. 11.9.418; Aup. 38; Sät. S. II.vi.52. 118 Bhag. S. 1.2.25. 116 Bhag. 1.2.25; Aup. 38.
1 This is the explanation of Abhayadeva; the word however seems to be ghati A begging-bowl.
116 Bhag. 1.2.25; Anuyog. 20 and 26. "Bhag 1.2.25 and 11.9.418; Aup. 38 and 41; Anu. 20 and 26.