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 162

The Conduct of a Householder
10. Anumatityāgapratimā
Under anumatityāga, a śrāvaka should also withdraw himself from all worldly affairs and should leave everything worldly to fate.1 Svetambaras call it 'presyatyāga' pratimā and its description includes both parigrahatyāga and anumatityāga.
11. Uddiṣṭatyāga
Under this pratimā, the Śrāvaka does not take any food specially prepared for him.2 Vasunandi mentions two divisions of this pratima, which are called 'ksullaka' and 'ailaka'.4
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This difference between 'kṣullaka' and 'ailaka' is mainly in their dress. The kṣullaka has an upper garment also whereas the ailaka has only a loin cloth. The former applies instruments for cutting his hair, keeps a broom in place of picchi, takes his meals once a day either in the palm of his hands or in some pot in a sitting posture, and observes fast on every parvan day. The latter pulls out his hair (this act is called luñcana) and takes his meals in the palm of his hands.5
Conclusion
Thus we see that in Jainism the conduct of a householder occupies a subserviant position to that of a monk. In ' fact, the life of a householder is just a stepping-stone to the life of a monk.
We find that Jaina ācāryas have covered almost every quality of good and honest citizens while giving the details of transgressions of different vows. The minuteness with which they describe these aticāras show their close familiarity with the working of human mind, which generally inclines towards evil under some excuse or the other.
1. भवियव्वं भावंतो अणुमण विरओ हवे सो दु ।
-Ibid., 388.
2. Ibid., 390.
3. Vasunandiśrāvakācāra, 301.
4. For the history of this division, see introduction to Vasunandiśravakācara, pp. 60-64.
5. Vasunandiśravakācāra, 302, 303, 311,