Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 440

Scc. III]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
415
the monks and nuns in addition to those mentioned in the first section of this chapter. They are as follows:
On the day of conclusion of fast a monk is to study the religious text (Dharma-Sastra) in the first part of the day (prahara), to meditate in the second prahara and to go out in the third prahıra with the permission of his Guru, having taken his mukhavastra (mouth-covering piece of cloth), bowl and clothes for begging alms from the high, low and middle class families. After returning from this begging tour, he is to show his food and drink obtained by him to his religious teacher.'
A Nirgrantha monk, being invited by a householder to meal should take his share only and carry the other portion given for another ascetic according to the instruction of the householder and offer it to his fellow monk after searching him out. But if that ascetic (sthavira) is not found, his share should not be taken by the former nor should it be given to others, rather it should be left out on the ground free from living beings in a desolate place by cleansing and wiping off the earth. The same rules should be followed by a Nirgrantha monk in regard to the acceptance of three to ten portions of food offered by a householder and in the cases of receiving other articles, viz. pot (pratigraha', a cleaning piece of cloth (gocchaka), duster (rajaharana), clothes (colapataka), blankets (kambala), sticks (lathi), and bed (santhāraga), respectively.'
Rules of taking food prescribed for the Nirgrantha Monks & Nuns
The Bhs prescribes some rules for nirgrantha monks and nuns in regard to their taking of food and drink. Food and drink are classified into two categories, according to the monastic rules viz. Sadosa (faulty) and Nirdosa (faultless), i. e. impure and pure from the point of view of asceticism.
Faulty or impure food and drink are classified into the following groups, viz. sāngāra-pānabhojana, sadhūma-pānab hojana,
? BhS, 2, 5, 111
· 16, 8, 6, 333.
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