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## Chapter Four of the Vermagranth
A group (community) of nine Sadhus consists of four ascetics, four attendants (servants), and one Vasnaacharye. The ascetics observe fasts during the summer: one minimal, two moderate, and three excellent. During the winter, they observe two minimal, three moderate, and four excellent fasts. However, during the rainy season, they observe one minimal, four moderate, and five excellent fasts. The ascetics observe the Ayambil vow with Abhipraha on the day of Para. This cycle continues for six months. In the next six months, the previous ascetics become attendants, and the attendants become ascetics.
For the next six months, the ascetics who have taken on the role of ascetics follow the same order of austerity as the previous ascetics. However, the Sadhus who have taken on the role of attendants always observe Ayambil. After the next six months, for the third six months, the Vaachnaacharye becomes the ascetic; one of the remaining eight Sadhus becomes the Vaachnaacharye, and the rest become attendants. In this way, after the completion of these third six months, this twelve-month austerity called "Pariharavishuddha" ends. After this, they either accept the Jinakalp or return to the same Gachch they were previously in, or they begin austerity again. The "Nivishmanak" and "Nivishtakaiyik" are the two types of Pariharavishuddha austerity. The current Pariharavishuddha is called "Nivishmanak," and the past Pariharavishuddha is called "Nivishtakaiyik."
(4) In the austerity where the Sampray (Kashaya) arises subtly (extremely...
2 - This is a type of vow where only food is consumed, excluding ghee, milk, and other juices. Even then, water is consumed only once a day, heated in a pot.
Necessary Notes: 1603 - 5.