Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 143

122
STUDIÈS IN BUDDHIST AND JAINA MONACHISM
(v) The quantity of food The Buddhists were not prescribed a definite quantity of food. They were simply advised to take as much food as was sufficient to keep their stomach going. Likewise originally the Jainas were asked 'to beg food only for the sustenance of life'. However their normal diet was fixed to consist of thirty-two morsels (kuvala', each equal tɔ the size of a hen's egg (kukku liandapamāna). But it is to be noted that those eating less than this ideal quantity were highly praised.' Later on the quantity of food to be consumed by a Jaina monk was regulated by several factors These factors in question were season, the magnitude of fast, the number of donations (dattis) and the number of houses to be visited by a monk4.
(vi) The time for eating It is to be borne in mind that monks belonging to both the systems are normally allowed only one meal a day. A Buddhist is expected to finish it before mid-day as both entering a village and taking food out of hours,? i. e. from sun-turn in one day till sun-rise in the next, are strictly prohibited. On the contrary, a Jaina, in normal circumstances, is required to finish his meal in the third porisi. But the time for taking food may also be adjusted according to one's own suitability when some special vow as regards food has been undertaken, and a monk under such circumstance may also beg alms for more than once a day.' Again it is a point worth noticing that a Jaina ascetic is in no case allowed a night-meal, i. e. to take food after sun-set in one day till sun-rise in the next (khettatikkaṁta). 10
(vii) The way of proceeding to the village for alms A strict course of discipline to be observed by a monk in course of begging of alms is laid down by both the systems. The Buddhists called it pindacărikavatta and bhattaggavatta (the way of attending a
1. DN, Vol. I, pp. 62-63. 2. Bhag, 269, p. 29?a; Vau, 8. 16; Pind N, 612-15, pp. 173.1-174a. 3. OghN 652, p. 204a. 4. Kapp (SBE. Vol. XXII), pp. 298-301. 5. Ibid, pp. 298 299. 6. PM, 5. 85. 7. Ibid, 5. 37. 8. Bhag, 269, pp. 291b-292a. 9. Kapp (SBE. Vol. XXII), p. 299. 10. Bhag, 269, pp. 291b-292a,