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
up domestic state or any other monastic career'.' The confirmation of this formal admission is styled uvatthāvanā (Skt. upasthä pa na), ie. to admit the initiated to the privileges of the recognised monk."
It is an admitted fact that scholars differ so far as the interpretation of the terms pabbajia and upasampada is concerned. To dialate upon those details, therefore, would simply be beating about the bush, for in some form or other they give the same result. Anyhow we should take note of Prof. Oldenberg's interpretation of the terms which seem to be more appropriate when he calls the former, i.e. pabbajjă, 'lower initiation' and the latter, i.e upa sampadă, 'higher initiation'' most probably having in view the difference in amount of privileges availed at these two successive stages. That pabbajid and upasampada are the two distinct gradual stages of the life of a Buddhist friar is also corroborated by Prof. Kern in spite of his confusing remark that if we descend into the details the matter becomes embarrassing' which he himself refutes to a great extent, if not completely. His confusion seems to be due to the fact that in some cases the grounds for separating the two steps of initiation' are not distinct. But we should note that in such cases initiation (pabbajja) and ordination (upasampada) were conferred simultaneously. Not only this, but several persons are also referred to have realised the truth as soon as they were adınonished by the Blessed One or his disciples.
So far as this distinction between pavvajja and uvatthāvanā is concerned the Jaina Order seems to be more strict than the Buddhist as it still retains it. Even nowadays, the Jaina Order calls these two stages of puvvajjā and uvatthāvaņā as 'choţi dikşa' (minor or primary initiation) and 'badidikşā' (major or final initiation) respectively, very likely on account of the same reason which led Prof. Oldenberg to style them as 'lower' and 'higher initiation respectively
Now it is indubitable that initiation and ordination are the two distinct successive stages of the life of a Buddhist monk as well as of a Jaina monk. Thus the remark passed with regard to the Buddhist Order that 'we should not confuse them as two different orders' (opposed to two distinct stages) 'of the Buddhist monastic life?' is applicable to the Jaina Order as well.
1 Pancavastukagrantha, 1. 5. 2. Vide HJM, 216.
Oldenberg, Buddha, p. 347. 4. Prof. Hardy, Manual of Buddhism, p. 76. 5. Oldenberg, Buddha, p. 347. 6. Vide MV, 1.7.13-19, pp. 13-16; 1.9.25-26, pp. 18-19; 1.17.60-62, pp. 38-41; ete. 7. Prof. Hardy, Eastern Monachism, pp. 45 f.