Sramana 2008 01

SR No.: 525063
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shreeprakash Pandey, Vijay Kumar
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 138
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Sramana, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 105

100 :
śramaņa, Vol 59, No. 1/January-March 2008
4. Brahmacarya or abstinence from Sex Passions or all illicit
sexual activities (Sthūla Maithuna-viramana)
It is the Brahmacarya-vrata. It differs from all other vows in its double formation: positive in the sense of contentment with one's own wife (sva-dāra-santosa) and negative as avoidance of the wives of others (apara-dāra-gamana). According to this vrata the vower refrains from all types of sex passions. The sex passions imply materialistic pleasures of all the five senses or complete celibacy. The householder who undertakes this vow should not even think to use the wives of others. It covers even the avoidance of sexual contacts with harlots, widows and unmarried women. All sexual contacts, except the fair ones, with one's own wife should also be avoided". Jainas has traditionally accepted this practice but consider monogamous marriage as the ideal. He must consider all women accept his wife a mother or sister, thus overcoming sexual desire for them. The sexual code of Jaina householder then focuses upon "marriage and moderation. The importance of loyalty to one's spouse is strongly emphasized. The fact that sexual activity involves passion, hence from Jaina perspective injures the soul, is of course obvious. It is further held that the very act of intercourse slaughters great number of souls who dwell in the generative organs of the female and the ejaculate of the male. Further, it is not limited to mere abstention from sex. The word carya means day-to-day conduct. The word Brahma means 'self'. Hence the word Brahmacarya suggests the pure-knowership. The English word 'celibacy' is therefore, not competent in comprehending the real meaning of Brahmacarya. To observe celibacy in word and spirit one should have control over his mind and his food, clothing and whole life style. The aticāras of this vow are: (i) İtvara-prigļhita-gamana (intercourse with a women
temporarily taken to wife) (ii) A-prigrhita-gamana (intercourse with an unmarried
women)