Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 361

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA [Ch. VI practice of austerities, as it is known from the cases of Skandaka,' Rşabhadatta, Devānandā,' Jamāli' and others. Financial condition of Educational Institutions
The BhS does not throw any light upon the financial con. ditions of the educational institutions and of the teachers who were devoted to the teaching profession. But it appears from the study of text that the three classes of teachers, namely, Kalācārya," Silpācārya," and Upādhyāya,' were financially helped by the state and the society. Courses of Studies
It is learnt from the text that the course of studies included the four Vedas, viz. Ķig, Atharva, Sāma and Yaju, Itihāsa (Purāna) the fifth Veda, Nighanțu the sixth Veda, six Vedāngas, Sankhāņa (arithmatic), Sikkhā (phonetics), Kappa (ritual), Vāgaruna (grammar), Chand 1 (metre), Nirutta (exegesis) and Joisāmaya (astronomy and astrology),' six Upāngas and Sathitamta. The six Upāngas which comprised the further elaborations of the subjects are dealt within the Vedāngas and the Satthitamta was an authoritative treatise on the Sankhya system of philosophy.
Besides these, the other Jaina texts make references to seventy-two kinds of arts which will be discussed later on.
The students might have studied all these subjects but specialized themselves in one or the other of these different branches of learning.
Similarly there might have been teachers who were specialists in particular subjects of studies, as it is evidenced by the fact of the Kulācārya, Silpācārya,9 and Svapnalaksanapūthaka (who were well versed in the Astāngamahānimitta)'.
These evidences indicate how specialization in a particular branch of knowledge fairly advanced at that period.
i Bhs, 2. 1, 91-96. ? 16, 9, 33, 382. 8 16, 9, 33, 385. 4 1b, 11, 11, 429. 5IB, 7, 9, 300. IV, 9, 33, 389. ? Ib, 2, 1, 90. See also Ovāiya Sütta 38, p. 172. 8 BhS, 11, 11, 429. Įb, 7, 9, 300, 10 Ib, 11, 11, 428.