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The course of conduct which is based on the basic principle of A-hiṁsā prescribed by Jainism consists of five Vratas-(1) Ahimsā, (2) Satya, (3) Astèya, (4) Brahmacharya and (5) Paritaparigraha. 1. Ahimsā implies not merely non-injury to any insect but also the positive characteristic of love and sympathy towards all living creatures. 2. The next vow is Satya or truth. This truth-speaking is also to be derived from the doctrine of Ahiṁsā which implies love and sympathy to all living creatures. 3. The term Astèya literally means non-stealing or non-acquiring any object belonging to others which is not voluntarily given to you. 4. Brahmoarya, as far as the house-holder is concerned, means family life confined to the enjoyment of one's own wife and avoiding all types of sex-transgressions. 5. The last item is limiting one's own personal possessions in the world. Acquiring of property in the form of land, cattle, gold, or silver is the process of acquiring personal possessions. All these come under the class of Parigraha, and the house-holder is enjoined to limit his personal possessions according to one's own status. Anything acquired beyond this limit must not be considered as one's own and must be used for the welfare and betterment of society AS & whole. This last item has got an important cconomic significance for the modern world, as may be presently noticed.
The same five vows or Panca-Mahāvratas, the Five Great Vows as compared with the Panca-Anuvratas -the Five Smaller Vows which are related to the house-holder. Each of these Panca Mabāvratas is applied to the Yati without any limitation-a limitation which is imposed upon the house-holder as an economic unit of producer. For example, Brahmacarya which excludes sex perversity in the housc-holder though it docs not exclude sex life with his own wife, would be applied absolutely in the case of the Yati who must observe complctc scx abstinenco as an ascetic,
Similarly, in the of case the last vow of Parigraha parimāņa, when the house-holder has to limit his personal possessions to
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| SR No. | 008001 |
| Book Title | Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 1 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker |
| Publisher | Parimal Publication |
| Publication Year | 1989 |
| Total Pages | 650 |
| Language | English, Sanskrit |
| Classification | Book_English, Biography, History, & Religion |
| File Size | 15 MB |