Source Book in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001263
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Devendramuni
Publisher: Tarak Guru Jain Granthalay
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 590
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 10 MB

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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
203
TYPES OF NIRJARĀ Pin The covering of karmas around ātman, is destructed by penances. So the penances are also regarded as nirjarā.?
The Sthânāngasätra ascerts as ege nijjarā--one nirjarā? There we get only these general wordings; but elsewhere twelve types of nirjară are described.
As the fire has no distinctions, while we consider its nature; but due to instrumental causes (nimitta käraņa), it has distinctions, like--wood-fire, stone-fire etc. So being nirjarā as one, with the point of view of its nature; but due to instrumental causes it is divided in twelve types.?
There are innumerable kinds of penances ! tapa), like-kanakāvali etc., so nirjarā may also be of innumerable types.
Acārya Abhayadeva writes in his yrtti of Sthānānga~Considered from the point of view of karmans, nirjarā is of eight types; because karmans (knowledge obscuring karnian etc.) are also of eight types. Being a produce of twelve types sf penances, nirjarā is also of twelve kinds. As nirjarā is the result of many causes, like-akāma (without any desire) tolerating hunger, thirst, cold, heat etc., and the vow of celibacy etc., it (nir jarā) is also of many types.5
But mainly, there are twelve types of nirjarā, on account of twelve types of penances. All the thinkers are one-minded on this point. These twelve types of nirjarā or tapas (austerities) are as follow:
1. Fasting (anaśana) 2. Eating less than one's fill or hunger (ūnodarī)
3. Taking a definite vow secretly to accept food from a householder only if certain condition is fulfilled (bhiksācari).
1. Navatattva-prakaraṇa, 11, bhāşya 90, by Devagupta Suri 2. Sthānānga 9/16- Ege nijjarā. 3. śāntasudhārasa-Nirjarā Bhāvanā, 2-3, Vina yavījayajī. 4. Navatattva-prakarana, 11, Devagupta Sūri. 5. Sthānānga, 1/16, Tikā.