Jaina Ethics

SR No.: 001334
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 314
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

Page 128

The Conduct of a Householder
111
violence that the householder commits under compulsion are not to be abondoned ultimately. As the aspirant ascends the steps of spiritual progress, he minimises all types of violence in his conduct. In the meantime, he has a constant feeling of self-condemnation (nindana, garhaņa) for the violence that he commits. 1
Eight mūlaguņas :
Amrtacandra has considered the renunciation of wine, meat, honey and five types of Udumbara fruits as necessary for a householder, who wants to observe the vow of nonviolence. These are called basic qualities or mūlaguņas of a householder. The earlier writers like Samantabhadra included the five aņuvratas also in the mülagunas. Samantabhadra had five anuvratas and abstinence from wine, meat and honey as the eight mūlaguņas.3 Ācārya Somadeva introduced altogether a different tradition by replacing five anuvr atas by abstinence from five Udumbaras. This must be considered as concession, since observance of five anucratas is much more difficult than avoidance of five Udumbaras. Amrtacandras üri followed Somadeva in this respect.
The number of these basic qualities has not remained constant. Acārya Amitagati added to the eight basic qualities given by Amrtacandra, the avoidance of eating at night.5 Vasunandi added, the avoidance of gambling, hunting, prostitution, adultery and stealing. Pandita Asādhara gives another list of these basic qualities in which he has added devotion to the adorable five, viz. Arihanta, Siddha, Acārya, Upādhyāya and Sadhu ; use of only that water which is strained through a cloth and a compassionate attitude towards the sentient beings.?
It may be observed from these different lists of basic qualities of a householder that non-violence predominates in
1. Amitagatisrāvakācāra, 6.8. 2. Puruşārthasiddhyupāya, 61. 3. Ratnakarandastāvakācāra, 66. 4. Handiqui, K. K., Yaśastilaka and Indian Culture, p. 262. 5. Amitagatisravakācāra, 5.1. 6. Vasunandiśrāvakā āra, 59. 7. Săgăradharmām;ta, 2.18.