Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.t1.35

c14.t1.35

The rule of a Samana *Niggantha* is stated to have been most difficult (*paramaduccara*) to practise. He had to keep a watchful eye over his observances The path is compared to treading on the edge of a sword.²² There were two classes of Jain monks : (1) those who wandered about naked and used the hollow of their palms for an alms-bowl, (2) and those who put on clothes and kept an alms-bowl, sweeping-duster, a piece of cloth called *mukhavastrikā* and other necessary articles. They came out daily begging their food, and plucked their hair unlike the Buddhist monks²³ They were called *Nigganthas* because they were unfettered It is said that a monk had to guard himself against (1) destroying life, (2) telling a lie, (3) stealing, (4) sexual intercourse, (5) possessions, (6) taking meals at night, (7) injuring "earth-bodied" living beings, (8) "water-bodied" living beings, (9) "fire-bodied" living beings (10) "air-bodied" living beings, (11) "vegetable-bodied" living beings, (12) immobile beings (*tasa*), (13) prohibited things, (14) taking meals in a householder's utensil, (15) using sofa (*paliyanka*), (16) seat (*nisajjā*), (17) taking bath, and (18) decoration²⁴