Agam 24 Chhed 01 Nishith Sutra Part 01 Sthanakvasi

Author(s): Amarmuni, Kanhaiyalal Maharaj
Publisher: Amar Publications

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The Ācārya told his followers to obey the order of the king. When the ācārya reached the court alongwith his followers, he asked the king to call the Brahmins, so that they (sādhus) would express their respect by bowing to them. As soon as the Brahmins assembled in the court, the Jain saints, some of whom were experts in mantras, used the efficacy of some mantras and killed the Brahmins with the help of the leaves of Kanheri; even the king was slain with this spiritual power ; such use of spiritual power has the sanction and dignity of moral principles, in this case, it is regarded as an act of ahiṁsā.1
But anyone who wants to desist from such exceptions had to leave the community (Saṁgha) only to devote his time to the path of self purification and through it self-realisation. The question arises if all desert the Samgha, who will preserve the solidarity of community and protect the properties such as temples, libraries, the Sadhvis and other spiritual aspirants. Hence, protection of the community is of prime importance, although the spiritual progress had a temporary setbacks.
It must be remembered here that the commentator-Jinadāsa Mahattar (676) has flung some exceptions to the basio principles embedded in the sūtras ; but any attempt to trace the origin of such exceptions is bound to be a failure because the sūtras do not mention the sources in the original works in which exceptions (apavāda) even by implication, were provided. Then how could the commentator propound and propagate such exceptions. It seems he has succeeded in projecting an image of the then prevalent social situations. In order to safeguard the interest of the society, exceptions become social obligations ; in this process, one has to transgress the limits of the accepted rules and regulations
Of all the topics referred to in the Niśītha Bhāşya and Cūrņi no part is more controversial than the exceptions made to the extent of sanctification as it werc. Jainism is an uncompromising
1. N. Cūrņi Gāthā-487.