Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c15.s2.10

c15.s2.10

Then the ancient people were superstitious regarding planets. It is stated that at the time of taking out a dead body of a monk, a suitable planet must be selected, otherwise the monks would undergo *pāyacchitta*.¹²³ Then superstitions are mentioned regarding travelling; when the monks travelled from one place to another, they took into consideration the *tithi*, *karana* and the *nakkhatta*. The fourth, sixth, eighth, ninth and twelfth days of dark and bright months were considered auspicious.¹²⁴ The sight of the following objects was considered inauspicious : a person wearing dirty clothes, rags or anointed with oil, a dog going from left to right, a hunchback, a dwarf, a woman advanced in pregnancy, an old maiden, a person carrying a load of wood or wearing coloured clothes and a ‘*kuccandhara*’ ascetic.¹²⁵ It is stated that while going to a physician the monks should go in odd numbers either in three or five,¹²⁶ at the time of departure if somebody sneezed or asked question as to where they were going or the monks had a fall or stumbled or their head struck against something, it boded evil.¹²⁷