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 109

104 :
Śramaņa, Vol 59, No. 1/January-March 2008
Anantakāyas (infinite number of living organism)-Amongst the substances which a Jaina is forbidden to consume either as a food or a medicine are included the anantakäyas or sädhāraņas, plants which are inhabited, not like the majority of the vegetable kingdom by individual jīvas, but an infinite number of living organisms. The plants, which are classified, as anantakāyas seem to be chosen because of certain morphological peculiarities such as possession of bulbs or rhizomes or habit of periodically shedding their leaves. A list of 32 anantakāyas is given by Jaina Ācāryas. Prominent among them are:
Gajjjara (Carrot), Alū (Potato), Nimbankura (nimba shoots or margosa), Vadankura (Banyan), Lahasaņa (Garlic), Vamsa-karilla (bamboo) etc.
Abhakşyas (non-etables)- The definition of what is not fit to be eaten is given considerable prominence particularly in latter Jainism. It is true that cruelty begins with the plate on our table. Therefore, it is very important to decide what we should take and what not. We have three lists of abhakşyas as given by Nemicandra, Hemacandra and Āsādhara which vary in numbers i.e. 22, 16 and 22 respectively.
(1-5) Five Udumbaras-(figs) (i) Umbara, udumbara- Ficus glomerata Roxb.; (ii) Vața, nyagrodha- Ficus bengalensis; (iii) Pippala, aśvattha-Ficus religiosa Linn.; (iv) Plaksa-Ficus infectoria Roxb.; and Kakombari, guphala- Ficus oppositifolia willed,
(6-9) Four banned Vikstis- (i) Māṁsa (Meat), Madya (Alkohal), Madhu (Honey), Makkhana (Butter), (10) Snow (Hima), (11) Poison (Vişa), (12) Ice (Karaka), (13) Earth (Mrda), (14) Food Eaten at night (Rātri-bhojana), (15) Fruit with many seeds (Bahubija), (16) Anantakāyas, (17) Pickles (Sandhāna), (18) Butter milk in tiny lumps (Ghola-vataka), (19) Aubergines (Vịntaka), (20) Unknown fruits and flowers, (21) Empty fruits (Tuccha-phala), (22) Tainted food (Calita-rasa).22
Rātri-bhojana-tyāga: Great importance has always been attached by Jaina writers to the abstinence from taking food by night