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## 83. Pinḍaniyukti: A Supervisory Flaw
Pinḍaniyukti is a supervisory flaw. Offering alms by climbing up to a platform, such as a Niḥśreṇī, and then descending from the upper part of the prāsāda is considered an excellent example of Mālapāhata. The Niyuktikāra has given the example of a Bhiksu in the case of a heinous Mālapāhata and a Kapālika in the case of an excellent Mālapāhata.
There are also three types of Mālapāhata flaws, according to different interpretations: 1. Ūrdhva, 2. Adhaḥ, 3. Tiर्यक्. Offering alms by descending from above, such as by sneezing, is Ūrdhva Mālapāhata. Offering alms by bringing it from below, such as from a basement, is Adhaḥ Mālapāhata. Offering alms from a very high place, such as a large pot, is Tiर्यक् Mālapāhata. According to the Bhāṣyakāra, offering food kept in an Ardha-māle is Tiर्यक् Mālapāhata.
The Piṇḍaviśuddhiprakaraṇa mentions four types of Mālapāhata flaws. In addition to the three mentioned above, the fourth is Ubhaya Mālapāhata. Explaining Ubhaya, its commentator Yaśodevasūri says that offering food to a sādhū by raising one's heel and extending one's arm while standing on a large pot, a camel's back, or a high platform is Ubhaya Mālapāhata. In this case, the body is moving in both upward and downward directions, hence the name Ubhaya Mālapāhata.
If the householder is already standing on a platform, a step, or a staircase before the sādhū arrives, then he can offer the pātra-dāna by extending his hand, as this is not considered Anuccotkṣipta.
Yaśodevasūri has raised an argument regarding the Mālapāhata flaw: If offering alms by descending from above is a Mālapāhata flaw, then how is offering alms by bringing it from below a Mālapāhata flaw? In response, he says that food brought from the basement is also considered Mālapāhata due to the nature of the action. This has become a convention in the Āgama, therefore using the term Mālapāhata for bringing food from below is not incorrect.
While explaining the Mālapāhata flaw, the Niyuktikāra says that offering alms by climbing up to a Niḥśreṇī, a platform, etc., can cause the donor to lose balance and fall, resulting in injuries to his hands and feet. If there are sharp objects like Brihidalanaka instruments lying around, it could even lead to death. If the donor is a pregnant woman, there is a possibility of harming two living beings. Falling down could also result in the killing of earth-dwelling beings and other living beings under her body. Due to animosity towards the muni, there could be obstacles in obtaining wealth, the effectiveness of the sermon could be diminished, and people might develop the misconception that these munis are unaware of future calamities.
1. Piṇi 165, Mavṛ P. 108. 2. For a detailed explanation, see Pari. 3, Kathā Saṅ. 22, 23. 3. Piṇi 169, Jībhā 1270, Niśītha Bhāṣya (5949) mentions Ubhayat: instead of Tiर्यक्. 4. Jībhā 1270. 5. Piṇpraṭī P. 45. 6. Piṇi 170. 7. Piṇpraṭī P. 45, 46. 8. Piṇi 167, 168, Daśa 5/1/67-69.