Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

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

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STUDIES IN BUDDHIST AND JAINA MONACHISM
exalted position of the Ayariyauvajjhaya is also manifest from the privileges he was allowed to enjoy exclusively.
Gaṇahara :-The Gaṇahara or the group-leader was the name given to the chief and direct disciples of a Tirthankara. No mention is made in the texts proper either of the qualifications or of the duties of this person. For example, even the Vyavahārasutra which prescribes the qualifications of other officers is silent in this respect. "But, if on account of this absence of the statement of qualifications of a Gaṇahara we take him to be identical with the Ayariya," remarks Dr. Deo "then we cannot account for the separate mention of Ganahara along with the Ayariya and others in the list......" But as a matter of fact, this issue does not seem to be too difficult to be explained. It is just probable that the Order, out of respect for the nomenclature given by the Tirthankaras themselves, might not have deemed it proper to use the same for the officers appointed by itself. The Order therefore might have changed it by some other designation. Having the high standard of morality, outstanding scholarship and engaging personality of the Gaṇaharas of Mahāvīra in view, it may not be unjustified to remark that the Ayariya would have been the only officer to replace the Ganahara. Hence, the possibility that the Gaṇahara and the Ayariya were identical cannot be ruled out.
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who appears to be identical with the like the Gaṇahara or the Ayariya, was
Gani -One more officer Ganahara was Gani. The Gani, the head of a group of monks.* It is however difficult to account for the separate mention of this officer as not only his duties were almost identical with that of the Ganahara or the Ayariya, but he is also equated with them.5 This fact is further stressed on by the Avasyakaniryukti which refers to Indrabhūti, the chief Ganahara of Mahāvīra as the Fitthagani.
6
The qualifications that a Gani must have are known as Ganisampaya (Skt. Ganisampada). Ganisampada is eightfold", namely, ayarasampaya (qualification of good conduct), suyasampaya (qualification of
1. For Ganahara Vide Supro, pp. 25-6.
2. Brhk, 4.15.
3. HJM, p. 225.
4. gano yasya astiti. Comm. to Than, pp. 143a-144a.
5.
Comm. to Than, p. 422b & PindN, 315, p. 98a equate him with Aariya; DasaN, 4.27-28, p. 16b with Gaṇahara.
6. AvasN, 556.
7. Than, 601, p. 422b; Dasa, 4th dasa; Vide also, Dasu. Culiya, 2.9.