Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c24.34

c24.34

**Vihāra Staff.** The management of these elaborately equipped establishments where so many monks lived together naturally called for a numerous and varied staff of officials with a well worked-out differentiation of functions. The Saṁgha staff included the following officers: (1) the Apportioner or Distributor of lodging-places. The usual method was first to count the Bhikkhus, then to count the sleeping places available, and then to apportion accordingly [*Chullav.*, vi, 11, 3]. When the supply was greater than the demand, the distribution was to be on the basis of the apartments (*Vihāras*), available and even of buildings (*Pariveṇas*) [ib.]. Resident Bhikkhus were often "worried by having constantly to provide sleeping accommodation for travelling Bhikkhus who came in from country-places" [ib., vi, 15, 1]. Bhikkhus belonging to the same division or having common subjects of study were usually given lodging places in the same quarter [ib., iv, 4, 4]. Novices wanting in merit were of course given inferior lodging-places [ib., iv, 4, 5]. The office of the regulator of lodging-places was coupled with that of (2) the regulator or apportioner of rations. The two offices were combined by the Venerable Dabba the Mallian who, having attained to Arahatship when he was only seven years old, and thus "gained everything that a learner can reach to", and finding nothing further left for him to do, thought of what service it was possible for him to render to the Saṁgha and in a true spirit of positivism, came to the conclusion that "it would be a good thing for me to regulate the lodging-places for the Saṁgha and to apportion the rations of food". The appointments were then formally offered to him by a Resolution of the Saṁgha [ib.]. Novices got inferior rations. We read of gifts to senior Bhikkhus by lay-devotees of ghee, oil, and dainty bits and to novices of only scraps of food and sour gruel [ib.]. Other members of the Saṁgha staff included (3) the overseer of stores, (4) receiver of robes, (5) distributor of robes, congey, or fruits, (6) distributor of dry foods, (7) disposer of trifles (e.g. needle, pairs of scissors, sandals and braces, girdle, filtering cloth, regulation strainer, etc.), (8) receiver of under-garments, (9) receiver of bowls, (10) Ārāmikas or those who kept the grounds of the Ārāmas in order, (11) Superintendents of Ārāmikas to look after their work, and (12) Superintendents of Sāmaṇeras to keep them to their duties [*Chullav.*, vi, 21].