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636
The Unknown Pilgrims
they sleep on straw. They may also use wooden boards for resting and small low desks for writing.
b) Aryikåsarhgha: The community of Āryikas
The internal organisation of the samgha is the same as that of the sādhvis, with this difference however, that there is an intermediate category between the śrāvikās and the āryikās, namely, the kşullikās.13
During their vihāras, the āryikās take nothing along with them except the picchikā and the kamandalu; books, mats and other necessary objects are always conveyed to the next place by śrávakas. These last-named have, in fact, themselves determined the route to be followed, the vasatikāsthāna and other details. 14Because of their small number, there is a very close relationship between the aryikās and the śrāvakas and śrāvikās, who have only very exceptionally had the chance of having aryikäs in their midst.
The āryikās receive a solid training in asceticism and in the study of the Scriptures, the doctrine, Prākrit and Sanskrit, from their own guruņi, also called gamini; sometimes also, though this depends on prevailing conditions in the different places, they are helped by the ācārya or by a pandit. They do not, properly speaking, go in for śikṣākendras. However, they are permitted to give pravacanas and certain ones write or do translation-work.
i) Conditions of admission
These are the same as for the sădhvis.15 However, to the general conditions which ensure that a person is a fit subject for leading a
13 The äryikās have been mentioned frequently in Part I in connection with documents concerning them, which are found in various regions. We recall also that several Satis are venerated by both traditions; cf. P 256.
14 Cf. Jñānamati, 1976, p. 31.
15 Cf. P 449 ff.
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