Jaina View of Life

SR No.: 001622
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 260
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Discourse
File Size: 14 MB

Page 188

In This Our Life
173
(lesser vows). In addition to 1) five aṇuvratas, he has to practise 2) three guņavratas and 3) four sikşāvratas.
We may mention some of the aticâras (infractions) of the aņuvratas. Some of the aticāras of vrata are :
1. Ahimsā : i) bandha tying up, keeping in captivity men and beasts. However, the restraining of cattle by means of ropes and restriction on our children for corrections may be permitted." So may a thief be bound. ii) vadha (beating) : It refers to wanton and merciless whipping of animals out of anger and aroused by other passions, although some exceptions like mild beating, pulling the ears or slapping for correction are permissible. jii) chaviccheda : This applies to acts of injury to the body with sword or sharp instrument. Operations by a physician would be exceptions.a8 iv) atibharāropaña : It refers to heavy and merciless loading of beasts by a burden greater than they can bear. Certain types of occupations have been tabooed for a Jaina layman. v) blakta-pāna-Vyavaccheda : It refers to making the animal suffer from hunger and thirst for no reason out of anger or negligence. The context and the implications of ahimsā vrata are much wider than the aticāras indicate. We have, therefore, added in the end a critique of ahimsa in the light of its philosophical justification.
2. Satya-vrata (truth-speaking) has also a wide connotation. It has been interpreted as abstention from untruth spoken out of passion, and even from truth if it leads to the destruction of the living being." We may mention some of the infraction of this Vrata. i) Sahasābhyakhyāna : It consists in casually or intentionally imputing false charges against a person as : he is a thief, or an adulterer'. Friends of Othello committed this grievous crime and sin against Desdemona even if it were in jest. ii) Svadaramantra bheda : It consists in divulging to
22. Yogas astra : Hemacandra, iii, 90. 23. lbid, III, 90. 24. Srävakācara. Vasunandin, Edt. Hiralal Jain; 209.