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INTRODUCTION
Foutes
The name Kalpasūtra may lead one to believe that the work is an independent Sütra or canon. Actually, the Kalpasūtra forms the eighth chapter (adhyayana) of the Daśāśrutaskandha, a canonic text of the Cheda class. This chapter is named Pajjosavand-Kalpa, or, alternatively, Pajosamand-kalpa. Pajjosavani is translated as paryuşaşa, a word used in two somewhat different senses: it means 'to spend the rainy season at one specific place'; it is also the name given to a well-known Jain festival which is celebrated for eight days during the rain month of Bhādrapada. The word paijosamana is translated as paryuşa-samana, which means forgiveness'. Kalpa connotes : 'conduct', 'propriety', 'right behaviour', *moral duty,''prescribed ascetic rules' and the like. Pajjosavana-kalpa, consequently, means : conduct appropriate during the rain-rest'. And pajjosamana-kalpa means: 'conduct governed by forgiveness'.
Kalpasitra, then, is a treatise concerned with the right, forgiving conduct to be followed by bhikṣus during the season of rains: from the day of the full moon in the month of Aşādha to the same day in the month of Kārtika. The eight days, from the thirteenth of the dark-half of the month of Bhadrapada to the fourth of the bright half of the same month, are days when the festival of paryuşana is celebrated. It is celebrated with great pomp and religious fervour by the entire Jain community including monks and the laity. Recitations of the Kalpasitra are held during this period.
Butas
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1. Muni Punyavijaya, Kalpasutra, Introduction, pp. 8-9. 2. Paia Sadda Maharnavo, second edition, p. 513. 3. Prasamarati Prakarana, 143. 4. Kalpasutra Curni, edited by Muni Punyavijaya, p. 85.
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