Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

Author(s): Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India
must return before night. If unable to do so he must return & certain part of the way and lodge there.34
According to Mrs. Sinclair Stevenson, "The object of this custom may have been to avoid levying too great a tax on tho hospitality of the people, and also to prevent the ascetic forming close or undesirable friendships which might tempt him to break either his vow oî non-possession of goods or of chastity. The rule was, however, relaxed during the rainy season, when Mahāvira, like his subsequent followers, made a practice of remaining for four months at the same place."35
Regarding touring, habitation, begging, etc., the Kalpa-sūtra contains a chapter on the 'Rul's for Yatis': “This Institution was ordained by the adorable ascetic Mahāvira at Rājagļha, in the sacred garden (Chitra) of Guņaśila, while surrounded by multitudes of male and female ascetics and lay disciples, as well as gods and g oddesses.":36
Habitation
The Jaina Parivrājakas appear to have been predominantly eremitical. They have to follow certain norms regarding habitation and other day to day activities. A mendicant is expected not to stay in halting places, garden houses, family houses and monasteries where many fellow-ascetics are frequently arriving.37 The Ācārunga sūtra mentions that "A mendicant may exert himself or stand or sit or lje in a burying place, or in an empty house or in a mountain cave or in a potter's workshop."38 All these places are congenial for performing meditation. Mahāvīra also prescribed that the monks should reside in a sylvan and solitary place. He "having given up the town and country of Mithila, his army,... retired from the world and resorted to a lonely place."39 A true monk, according to the Uttarājjhāyaṇa Sutta, 40 should live in company with other monks, upright and free from desire; he should abandon his former connections and not longing for pleasures; he should wander about as an unknown beggar. The monk should rot use a lodging place where house-holder is living or a place containing the eggs of living beings. Even the monks are asked to avoid the places visited by women, beasts and eunuchs. They should not live in a place which is already be set with “many Sramaņas and Brāhmaṇas, guests, paupers and beggars.” The Parivrajakas or the monks, on the other hand, were always advised