Yasastilaka and Indian Culture

SR No.: 001609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 566
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Story, Literature, & Culture
File Size: 16 MB

Page 272

10. JAINA DOGMATICS AND MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
253
gets actually soiled; no one, for instance, cuts off the nose when a finger is bitten by a serpent."
As regards nakedness, it is urged that the wise hate what is artificial, but not the observance of what is natural. Nakedness is natural: where is the ground to hate it? Further, it would be impossible for the ascetics to observe the vows of non-possession and non-injury if they desired to wear robes made of barks or decr-skins. As for the custom of taking food standing, Somadeya says that its observance does not lead to heaven nor does the failure to observe it lead to hell. The custom merely marks a certain resolution of an ascetic: I will take food only so long as it comes to the hollow of my palm and I am able to take it standing; otherwise I will abstain from food altogether,"4
VI) After dealing with the essential Jaina doctrines and the custom of the Digambara munis, Somadeva enumerates a large number of religious practices, repugnant to Jainism, and collectively called Mūdha or Stupid customs and beliefs, from which Samyaktva or Right faith must be absolutely free. They are sun-worship; bath during eclipses; giving away money on samkrānti days; the morning and evening ablutions; fire-worship; the worship of edifices; ceremonial bathing in rivers and the ocean; adoration of trees, stūpas, and sacred offorings of boiled rice; religious suicide by falling from a precipice; bowing at the tail of a cow and taking cow's urine; and the worship of jewels, conveyances, weapons, the earth, Yakşas and mountains. Association with heretics of other faiths and the adherents of the Vedas also comes within the scope of Mūdha of which there are many varieties. To attribute divinity to what is not divine, to adopt as a VOW what is not really a vow,
1 यदेवाङ्गमशुद्धं स्यादद्भिः शोध्यं तदेव हि । अङ्गलौ सर्पदष्टायां न हि नासा निकृत्यते ॥ 2 विकारे विदुषां द्वेषो नाविकारानुवर्तने । तन्नग्नत्वे निसर्गोत्थे को नाम द्वेषकल्मषः ॥ 8 नैष्किचन्यमहिंसा च कुतः संयमिनां भवेत् । ते संगाय यदीहन्ते वल्कलाजिनवाससाम् ।। 4 न स्वर्गाय स्थिते क्तिनश्वभ्रायास्थितेः पुनः । किं तु संयमिलोकेऽस्मिन् सा प्रतिज्ञार्थमिष्यते ॥ पाणिपात्रं मिलत्यतच्छक्तिश्च
forfaitarai apiz y TaTITICHETA 11 P. 282. 5 सूर्याघों ग्रह्णनानं संक्रान्तौ दविणव्ययः । संध्यासेवाग्निसत्कारो गेहदेहार्चनो विधिः ॥ नदीनदसमुद्रेषु मज्जर्न
धर्मचेतसाम् । तरुस्तूपायभक्तानां वन्दनं भृगुसंश्रयः ॥ गोपृष्ठान्तनमस्कारस्तन्मूत्रस्य निषेवणम् । रलवाहनभूयक्षशस्त्रशैला• ANTII P. 282.
Ararauz HT992411 Carte AIICHI Chi Mūdha or Mūdhatā corres. ponds to what is called 'alien cultus' in Judaism, covering heathenism and all that it implies, the worship or acknowledgement of any deity except the true God, vene. ration of images, and all the customs ilssociated with heathen religions. Alien cultus' or hoathenism is one of the three deadly sins in Judaism, the others being uchastity in all its forms and homicide. Moore: Julaism, vol. I, p. 466; vol. II, p.267. Jainism, on the other hand, appears to treat heathonism as an error of judgment, and keeps it distinct from the cardinal sins envisaged by the Aņupratas,