Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

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

Page 233

212 STUDIES IN BUDDHIST AND JAINA MONACHISM Mahavira, it is just probable that she occupied a position in the Jaina Church hierarchy comparable to that of Mahaprajapati Gautami in the Buddhist. Out of the numerous male officers of the Jaina priesthood, only the Ayariya and the Uvajihāya wielded power over the nuns. The Chedasūtras refer to female officers like Ganiņi,” Pavattiņas and Ganavaccheini4, who took care of the Order of nuns. It may however be stated that their qualifications, duties and responsibilities were almost similar to those of Gaņi, Ayariya and Gană vaccheiya respectively and as such they held the same position in the Order of nuns as the latter three in the Order of monks. Though we come across in the Buddhist Canon with nuns like Puņpa and others who brought several persons to senses, yet none of them are clearly referred to as the leader of the Order of nuns.
(c) Conclusion Thus we see that the Jaina Church had a galaxy of officers who were responsible for the supervision of monks. But from the scanty and confusing accounts at our disposal, it is indeed difficult if not impossible to ascertain the position of at least some of the officers in the Jaina Church hierarchy. To serve as an illustration, we may refer to the cases of Ayariya and Ganā vaccheiya, whose qualifications and conditions for suspension from the office? were the same and as such we see no reason why should the latter be regarded inferior in position to the former.8 The Buddhist Order vied with the Jaina so far as the number of officers is concerned, but one would be disappointed in one's search for an officer whose position has not been clearly indicated. The status of the Upajjhāya and the Acariya, the only two officers of the Buddhist Church hierarchy responsible for the moral training of a monk is clearly distinguished. The former, unlike the Brahmanical and the Jaina 10 traditions, is held higher in position than the latter. So also, the position of officers concerned with the material needs of the Order is in no case interposing.
1. Vav, 3.12; Supra, pp. 207-8 2. ByhkB, Vol. V, 6048; Gacchacūra, 127-28. 3. Bhag, 334, pp. 375b; Brhk, 1.41f; 3.13; 4.1f; etc.; Vav, 5.1f; 5.1-2; 5.9.10;
5.13-14; 5 17. 4. Vav, 5.3-4; 5.9-10; BrhkB, Vol III. 5. Vide HJM, PP 468.470. 6. Vide Supra, pp. 2.7-8, 211. 7. Vav, 39; 13, 23-29. 8. Dr. Deo takes the Ganavaccheiya as inferior to Ayariya. HJM, pp. 223-24. 9 upadhyāyāndaśācārya ācāryāṇā satar pita /
sah asram tu pitomātā gauraveņātiricyate //
Munu, 2.145; Vide also rāgñavalkya, 1.35. 10. Vide Supra, pp. 207ff.