Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 512

483
ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
(knowledge 32.68-69) and osaha (medicine 14.41 should be offered. These are considered to be the best objects of gifts. The gifts of cows, girls, land and gold (goitthibhumidāņaṁ suvannadanaṁ 14,50) are mentioned as the cause of transmigration hence neither one should offer nor any monk should accept these things. This prohibition is quite against the practice of the Brahmanical religion, because Manu (4.230-231) extols the gifts of land, gold, silver and cow. The Padmapurana also (Brahmakhanda, Ch 24) highly recommends these gifts and lays down that (24,22) by offering a girl adorned with ornaments to a Brahmin one gets liberated from rebirth. This practice is found prevalent among the kings devoted to the Brahmanical faith. Kṣatrapa Rṣabhadatta (SI, I. p. 161) is said to have endowed gifts of gold, women, cows, and village to the Brahmins.
Some necessary conditions are attached offering to gifts. The Paumacariyam reveals that the alms should be offered with faithfulness, in accordance with one's capacity, and with devotion and awareness (Saddhasattībhattīvinnāņeņaṁ 102.135). The gifts offered with these carefulnesses bring about prosperity and happiness. The gifts are said to be of two kinds in relation to two types of receivers i.e. the right person and the wrong person (supattadapam and apattadāņaṁ 102.133). The right persons are those who observe five Mahāvratas, engage themselves in studies and meditation, perform austerities and are detached from wealth and worldly ties (102.134). Thus the Jaina monks are the right persons who deserve gifts (14.38.39). The wrong persons are those who are devoid of self control, infatuated by attachment and aversion (102.137). So the people of wrong faith engaged in injurious activities and immersed in sensual enjoyments do not deserve alms (14.42, 45) because the gifts given to wrong persons bring about subhuman existence and miseries (3.44) to the offerer. Therefore such gods who hold various weapons, who entertain passions, who have lust and attachment, who take delight in adorning their bodies, who have not crossed the world over and who pretend to liberate others are not fit for receiving any gift (14.61-62). Only the Vitaragas e.g. those who have destroyed the passions of attachment and aversion and who are free from all sorts of blemishes are worthy to receive alms (14.64), because the gifts offered to right persons are fruitful (102.135).
Besides the above vows, the PCV mentions that a householder should abstain from taking food at night and from using honey, meat and wine (raibhoyaņavirai mahumaṁsasurāvivajjaņam 14.116), because their use leads one to hell (103.28). The taking of food