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जैन मोनाचिज्म
Poy
JAINA MONACHISM
Dr. Mohan Lal Mehta
Director, P. V. Research Insitute
Varanasi--5.
SUMMARY
Mahavira, the Great Jina and the last Tirthankara of Jainism. was an ideal monk or ascetic. Hence, one can not think of Jainism, without monachism or asceticism. Mahavira was not the founder of a new monastic discipline but the reformer of an ascetic religion already in existence. He practised and preached the old Nirgrantha Dharma, Parsva, who preceded Mahavira, had preached the Fourfold Law, whereas Mahavira added one more vow to it and preached the Fivefold Law. It seems that Parsva had allowed his monks to wear an under as well as an upper garment, but Mahavira originally forbade the use of garments for his monks. Later on Mahavira allowed both types of monks in his Order. They were known as Acelakas (without clothes) and Sacelakas (with clo. thes) or Digambaras (sky-clad) and Svetambaras (white-clad).
The Jaina ascetic is required to observe five great vows kpown as nonviolence non-falsehood, non-stealing, non-copulation and non-aquisition. He is also enjoined to observe the sixth vow of non-night-eating. Besides, heis required to perform six essential duties known as Sadavasyakas. They are : Samayika, Caturvimsatistava, Vandana, Pratikramana, Kayotsarga and Pratyakhyana. These essential duties are helpful in observing the primary vows, i. e., the five great vows. They should be practised every
day.
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