Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

SR No.: 011077
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company
Publication Year: 1947
Total Pages: 429
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 199

RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
197
religious life. Travelling was extremely difficult, organised bands of robbers and dacoits moved freely, there were political disturbances when lawlessness prevailed throughout the country, getting a shelter was no less difficult a problem, rivalry between the Jain Samanas and other heretical monks and the Brahmanas was common, theic was famine, flood, pestilence, sickness when the Samanas suffered to a great extent Under such circumstances, however, the Jain Samanas tried hard to maintain the usual course of procedure laid down for them Frequently there came critical moments in their life when they hovered between life and death, and ultimately they contented themselves by laying down their lives quietly without uttering a word
TRAVELLING33
Travelling was considered an important means of spreading religion It is stated that a sadhu or a religious mendicant should be accomplished in various icgional languages and in correct utterance and expounding of the Sutras in different provincial languages He should learn the regional languages and then convert the people of the laitd He should also meet the great aryas in his travel for the better understanding of the Sutras 27 The Samanas had to traverse long and dreary distances when travelling was most insecure and painful They had to cross big wild forests, vast deserts and big mountains and rivers taking their lives in their own hands Some lost their way in endless Jungles, some were overpowered by snow and thorny bushes, some were devoured by wild beasts, some were done to death by robbers and dacoits, and some lost their lives for want of food and drink
It is stated that in the course of the journey the sadhus should not transgress the fence laid by the caravan. Sometimes the caravan in dccp forest came face to face with lions or robbers and the whole caravan was destroyed by wild beasts and robbers and if a sadhu was separated from the caravan, then he could ask the help of the sylvan deity, who would by means of a tremor show him the way or lead him to a Janapada.28 They were tied up and there was risk of being put to death and flogged and, therefore, it is said that the boundary of the enemy territory should not be crossed by the sadhus 80
The journey of boats was also a problem to the Samanas We hear that considering the Samana as an unrenumerative encumbrance for the boat, people took hold of him and threw him into water
31
16 See Brh su. 1 46 and its Bhasya, pp 856-880 (chapter on adhyaprakaιana)
27 Brh Bha 1.1230 f, 1234
28 Ibid 1.3104-9
29 Cf. ibid, 3.3901
30
Ibid, 1 2783, also cf 13112
31 Aca Su II, 3 2 344 Also Iva. Nir 470, cf Aväriya Jātaka (Ao 376), III, pp. 230 f.