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The Homeless Ones
v) The danda: The staff
The Murtipujaka sädhvis always carry a danda when they go out, a long staff of light wood, carved at the upper end, which they hold in their left hand.16 The Sthanakavāsi sådhvis only use such a staff when they are on vihara. This staff enables them to remove non-violently some obstacle on the road or dangerous reptile, in which latter case it is also a means of protection. The Terapanthi sadhvis, however, use no staff.
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Among other objects which are not obligatory, but which the majority of sadhvis use, we must make mention of the mälä and pothis. The mālā is a rosary of one hundred and eight small beads, of wood, or, oftentimes, of thread or cotton, the beads being then replaced by knots. The sadhvis make their own and the mālā is used for japa, although it is not considered indispensable. 17 A pothi is a book; each sadhvi has several that she carries over her shoulder in a canvas bag, along with pencils, ball-point pen and note-books, when she goes on her journeys. Usually there is one alarm-clock for a group and, wherever they land, they are provided with any remedies required and necessary sewing-things. As their stops, at any rate those of a certain length of time, take place in the bosom of a samgha, the sādhvis have at their disposal in the various places, if not good libraries, at least a certain number of Sūtras, doctrinal texts in the local language and sometimes other books also for their study. To conclude our description let us bear in mind that the sadhvis always walk barefoot and that walking is their one method of locomotion. Sometimes a very sick or aged sadhvi is transported for a short distance in a palanquin, but all other methods of transport are forbidden. To walk barefoot and move from place to place on foot is common practice for a great number of ascetics. What is peculiar to the sadhvis is the reason underlying this mode of conduct, namely, ahiṁsä.
Jain Education International
16 The carving here is of double significance, the five engraved lines representing the mahâvratas, and the slender point Mt Meru.
17 Cf. P 478.
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