Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c31.26

c31.26

**Grading of Monks.** The monks of the monasteries, like the students of colleges, were suitably graded according to their capacities and the level of advance they attained. Within the community of monks, the lowest grade is that of the *Śramaṇera* who is promoted, after his Upasampadā ordination, to the grade of the *Dahara*-(small) *Bhikshu*. Higher than him is the *Sthavira* (elder), the Bhikshu, who has seen ten summers or passed ten summer retreats in that capacity, and who, for his standing, "can live by himself without having to live under a teacher's care" (p. 104). In another place (p. 119) I-tsing tells of a preliminary stage of Sthavirahood and of the mastery of the Vinaya, and not mere seniority, as the standard of such gradings. Thus he states: "After the lapse of five summers from the time that the pupil masters the Vinaya, he is allowed to live apart from his Upādhyāya. He can then go about among the people and proceed to pursue some other aim. Yet he must put himself under the care of *some teacher* wherever he goes. This will cease after the lapse of ten summers, i.e. after he is able to understand the Vinaya." Thus, according to this statement, it is the independence of the teacher, the cessation of *nissaya* (to use the Vinaya word), attained by a ten years' standing after graduation in Vinaya, which entitles a Bhikshu to the degree or rank of a *Sthavira*. A *Sthavira* necessarily attains the position of an *Upādhyāya* and an *Upādhyāya* must be a *Sthavira*. A higher rank probably belonged to the other classes of teachers, like the Karmāchāryas and others who could officiate in the ordinations, but the basis of the distinction is not defined. "The age of a Karmāchārya and private instructor, and of other teachers who are witnesses, is not limited; they must be fully acquainted with the Vinaya, being themselves pure" (p. 105). The highest grade for a Bhikshu was that of the *Bahuśruta*. This high title was conferred only on one who was "learned both in the sacred and secular literatures and famed as virtuous" (p. 104). We have already noticed what was the course of study in secular literature that was prescribed for this coveted degree and distinction of the *Bahuśruta*.