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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s19: Other Centres

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s19

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English

Other Centres

c12.s19.1

Education was also imparted in the upāśrayas and the vasatis of the monks, which specialised in imparting instruction in the traditional learning by distinguished teachers (uvajjhāya). Besides teaching the twelve aṅgas, grammar (sadda), logic (hetussattha), philosphy, erotics and the science of casting spells⁴⁶ were also taught.

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⁴⁶ Bṛh. Bhā. 4 5179 ; 5431 ; Vya Bhā 1, p 57 af

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Every religious order of the samanas was a travelling school The furtherance of the cause of truth and knowledge in all branches of learning by open discussions was a remarkable feature of their educational and cultural activities. We read in the Bṛhatkalpa Bhāṣya that there were assemblies of disputants (vā dapurisā) where intricate discussions were held between the Jain monks and other ascetics, particularly the Buddhists If the disputant was weak in logic or philosophy, he was asked to go to another gaṇa to study further. After completing the studies, he came back, defeated his opponent and propagated the cause of religion.⁴⁷ We hear of an eccentric mendicant, who tied his belly with an iron-plate and holding a branch of the jambu tree, roamed about. He told people that to check the bursting of his belly with knowledge he had tied the iron-plate, and the branch of the jambu tree signified that there was nobody in Jambuddiva who could face him in argumentation.⁴⁸

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⁴⁷ Bṛh. Bhā. 4. 5425-31.

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⁴⁸ Uttarā Ṭī. 3, 72, cf. also the com on the Sutta Nipāta (ii, p. 538 ff); also Cullakāliṅga Jātaka (No. 301), III, pp. 1ff.

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Among the popular teachers of piety and morality mention may be made of the ballad-reciters and the story-tellers (kāhiya) through whom the profound truths of philosophies permeated even to the lowest stratum of society. Their preachings were enlivened by quotation of various stories, fables, legends and recitation of songs and riddles (chalitakāvya).⁴⁹

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⁴⁹ Bṛh. Bhā. 1.2564.

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