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 339

920
YAŠASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
It is not true to say that the Jainas do not gratify the Twice-born. They do worship the Munis (Jaina ascetics), who are “Twice-born', being once actually born, and born a second time at the time of initiation into the religious vows. Nor is it true to say that Jainism does not recognise ceremonial baths, because the Jaina householder is enjoined to take a bath before worshipping the Arhat or studying the Sacred Books or devoting himself to meditation. One must not, however, think that a mere dip in a river or a pool of water or a tank or the ocean leads to any religious merit, for in that case it is the aquatic animals that would go to heaven first. It has been rightly said that those who are maddened by passion, hate and pride, and addicted to women, are never purified even by bathing at hundreds of sacred sites:
जन्मैकमात्माधिगमो द्वितीयं भवेन्मुनीनां व्रतकर्मणा च । अमी द्विजाः साधु भवन्ति तेषां संतर्पणं जैनजनः करोति ॥ स्त्रात्वा यजेतासमथवागमं वा पठेद्यदि ध्यानमुपाचरेद्वा । स्त्रानं भवेदेव गृहाश्रितानां स्वर्गापवर्गागमसंगमाय ॥ सरित्सरोवारिधिवापिकासु निमजनोन्मजनमात्रमेव ।
पुण्याय चेत्तर्हि जलेचराणां स्वर्गः पुरा सादितरेषु पश्चात् ॥ तदाह-रागद्वेषमदोन्मत्ताः स्त्रीणां ये वशवर्तिनः। न ते कालेन शुच्छन्ति स्नानात्तीर्थशतैरपि ॥
As regards Homa, it is impossible that the gods who feed on nectar and live in luxury in heaven should ever partake of oblations made in the fire. The expression agnimukhāh, as applied to the gods, means those who have faces bright as fire', just as candramukhi kanya means a moon-faced girl'; but it does not mean, as is usually supposed, those who have Fire for mouth'.
Yasodhara then refutes the charge that Jainism is a modern creed unknown to the Vedas and the Law Books, by citing a number of texts supposed to contain references to Jaina ascetics, images and doctrines." It is, accordingly, concluded that just as there are four oceans and six seasons, similarly there are four schools of thought and six systems of philosophy including, of course, the system of the Jainas.?
चरवार एते सहजाः समुद्रा यथैव लोके तवोऽपि षट् च ।
चत्वार एते समयास्तथैव षड् दर्शनानीति वदन्ति सन्तः ॥
The speaker next defends the custom of Jaina ascetics who eat standing and that of the Digambara ascetics, who wear no clothing owing to their determination not to possess anything. As for personal hygiene,
1 See Chapters XIII and XVIII. 2 See Chapter IX.