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चूर्णिकार ने 'पिहितच्चे' शब्द के दो अर्थ किये हैं-(१) अर्चा अर्थात् आम्नव। जिसके आस्रव द्वार बन्द हो गए हैं। (२) अथवा जिसकी राग-द्वेष रूप ऊर्जा अर्थात् अग्नि ज्वालाएँ शान्त हो गयी हैं। वृत्तिकार ने इससे भिन्न दो अर्थ इस प्रकार किये हैं-(१) जिसने अर्चा-क्रोध ज्वाला शान्त कर दी है। (२) अथवा अर्चा यानी शरीर को जिसने पिहित-संगोपित कर लिया है।
Elaboration—Aphorisms 259 to 264 describe Bhagavan Mahavir's spiritual practices and the hurdles that came across. Aphorism 265 informs about his practices as a householder.
Tiriyabhittim chakkhumasajja-in this phrase tiryakbhitti means--a slanting wall. Abhayadev Suri in his commentary (Tika) of Bhagavati Sutra interprets tiryakbhitti as-wall of a rampart or that of a verandah or a rock. Fixing one's gaze on the wall is also a meditational technique among the Buddhists. Therefore this interpretation, slanting wall, conforms to the techniques of meditation.
But Acharya Shri Atmaram ji M., in accordance with the commentary (vritti) by Shilankacharya, interprets this verse asWhile walking he fixed his gaze in an area about six feet long (equal to the height of a man) and about four feet wide (equal to the distance between two wheels of a bullock-cart). While meditating his gaze was fixed on a slanting wall and mind on the self. According to the yoga literature this technique is called tratak.
These verses reveal that during his spiritual practices Bhagavan suffered numerous afflictions and torments. For example--When Bhagavan gazed unblinking at a slanting wall and meditated for one prahar (three hours), his iris turned up. The stony eyes looked terrifying to the throngs of children gathered around him and they shouted—“Beat him ! Beat him !” The commentator (Vritti) has interpreted hanta hanta bahave kandimsu as-Throngs of children threw fistfuls of sand at Bhagavan shouting 'Hit him, hit him'. Other children called loudly, 'Look here ! see this naked and shaven man, who is he ? From where has he come ?
Bhagavan generally selected a forlorn and lonely place for his stay. But even there some lustful women would come in search of आचारांग सूत्र
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Ilustrated Acharanga Sutra
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