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HERITAGE OF LORD MAHAVIRA :
involving indirect harm to others. Even so, one may vow not to wcar silk or fur, or leather foot-wear for the benefit of the animals producing it. Just so, one may vow not to pluck flowers, or not to kill any animal whatsoever, down to worms and insects, in order to ensure the boon of safety to all living creatures. One can vow, in the same way, not to waste any articles of daily use, such as water, fire, food and clothes, beyond one's actual requirements. And one can vow, as well, not to encourage the capturing and training of wild animals for the sake of sport or amusement, by avoiding to visit shows in which they are exhibited. Besides, one can vow to avoid thousands of similar actions involing direct or indirect injury to other creatures.
There are various kinds of Pratyakhyanas, or solemn vows, ranging from Pratyakhyanas of single actions of the above type, up to the set group of the five all-inclusive Pratyakhyanas called the Pancha Mahavrata or the Five Great Vows. These comprise the Vow of Non-violence, avoiding all physical injury to living creatures, the Vow of Truthfulness, avoiding all verbal misrepresentations, the Vow of Non-stealing, avoiding misappropriation of things belonging to others, the Vow of Celebacy, renouncing sexual intercourse and everything connected therewith, and the Vow of Non-possession, abjuring all property or belongings of any kind. These Five Sacred Vows are taken by every Jaina monk at the time of his initiation in a form of absolute strictness. They prohibit not only the doing of these objectionable things, but also the causing of their being done, and the approval one might give to their being done by thought,
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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