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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
ON VINAYA IN JAINISM
Ethical Discipline (Acaradharma) being a very important facet of Jainism, the ancicnt Jainá Scers and thinkers have picked up certain valuable human virtues and given them specific places in their Scheme of Conduct, prescribed for ascetics as well as the laity; and Vinaya is one of such virtues to have that honour and stalus. Apart from the general or dictionary meaning of this term, such as modesty, humility, polite conduct, decorum or gentle behaviour etc., Jaina Seers have invested it with certain special qualities, that are expecied to produce certain results, which are conducive to the development of individual personality and healthy society, and also to the maintenance of stability and perpetuation of the Secred Law. This phenomenon is lucidly reflected in several Works found in ilio various strata of their literature--canonical, commentarial, didactic, narrative ctc.
Commentator Aparajitasuri (c.800 A.D.) in his Vijayodaya commentary on the Mülaradhana of Sivakotyācārya (c.100 A.D.), a Digambara Pro-canonical work, defines Vinaya as follows:
“Vinayati apanayati yaikarmasubham todvinayah."
“Thai which removes, keeps away or destroys inauspious or sinful acts is Vinaya".
According to Pl. Asadhara, an crudite scholar of the medieval period and author of the Anagaradharmamrta (1243 A.D.), Vinaya mcans control over senses and passions and huinble attitude
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