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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
education took place mostly in the monasteries and they were meant for the newly initiated monks. But later on, outsiders too began to be admitted into these monasteries and non-Buddhist subjects too came to be introduced for them. As a result of such gesture, in due course of time, there appeared Universities of international fame like Nālandā, Valabhi and Vikramasilā. Soon these Universities earned a name as educational centres of high order amongst the seekers of knowledge even from foreign countries, particularly from those in Midle and East Asia. But later, all these unfortunately fell prey to the reckless plunder and arson of the Muslim invaders. Then, with the later Buddhism, its hold on education in India too disappeared. But the present excavated part of the great Nālandā University very well speaks to the visitor today of its old grand scale of planning and facilities provided therein.
Now coming to the system of education falling within the compass of early Jainism, what we find conspicuously is that no Jaina University like that in Takṣasilā or Nālandā, nor other centres of education of those models, came into existence. The reason for this is not far to seek. The great vow of Aparigraha (non-possession) appears to have been at the root of this phenomenon. According to this vow, the Jaina monk cannot own or possess any property of any kinds; and because of this strict injunction, there did not at all exist Jaina monasteries in those days. Even keeping books with oneself was considered as breach of the vow of Aparigraha. This led also to the loss of considerable part of the scriptural knowledge on the part of the early Jaina monks.
The Jaina Acaryas, in the early period, kept on always wandering and camping as per the dictum 'one night at the village, five nights in the town (or city) and ten nights in the words':
"Grame ekarātram nagare pañcaratram
atavyām dasaratram."
and they spent most of their time in observing their vows and practising penances. It was at the time of delivering sermons
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