Agam 24 Chhed 01 Nishith Sutra Part 01 Sthanakvasi

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

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the interests of the Jain Community. In order to be active spiritual aspirants one must have good health; weak constitution is a hindrance; hence good health has to be maintained at any cost; it is thus explicitly clear why they attached so much importance to the nature of food and were ready to accept any type of non-vegetation preparation.
Another celebrated doctrine, one of the five vows taught by Mahavira is celibacy (brahmacarya) which is very important but very difficult to practice. The Jain community (Sangha) comprises of saints and sädhvis (female saints), but they are debarred from observing the basic principles on the ground that nature has deprived them to necessary amount of firmness, persistency, tolerance as cssential conditions for the spiritual progress. It does not, however, mean that female nuns are totally unfit for moral path. It appears such conditions were laid in view of the then prevailing social conditions. There was denial of liberation to the females (strimukti); we find this attitude became one of the cardinal principles in the literature of the Digambara Jains.
Celibacy has to be strictly followed in the communtty, despite being very difficult. Gradually the rules were formulated in such a way as to keep some discipline amongst the sadhus and sädhvis. They were to remain at an appreciable distance and do som thing to retain their hold on the community, with a view to preserve the fine legacy come down from the times of Mahāvīra.
Sometimes, young men and women used to take to renunciation (dīkṣā), Some young men used to pursue them with a passionate desire.1 In event of any breach of rule of celibacy they were subjected to prayaścitta. Exceptions were very rigid and demanding; while trying to protect the moral purity of the female nuns, the saints had to punish the pursuers or bad characters. It is referred to such instances that even on the death-bed a Sadhvi might get electrified or experience the pleasant touch of men, even of a brother (N. Gatha-235-56; Br. Gatha 5254
1. N. Uddeśa, 4, 23, 7.1-91, 8, 1-11, 6 and N. Gatha from 296.