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B on the basis of these Chheda Sutra if someone is afflicted with the faults or deviates
from the restraints. These Chheda Sutras are the secret scriptures. It means they are kept secretly. Just as the occult teachings, Mantra, Tantra, Yoga etc. are not taught to an undeserved person to a person who has miniature intellect, similarly the study of Chheda Sutras are not allowed to the lesser competent practitioners. Only the practitioners who are of the mature intellect and are perfect are considered worthy to study the Chheda-Sutra. All the aphorisms of Chheda-Sutras are independent. They have no inter-relation with each other.
These Chheda-Sutra have mainly been divided into two parts-First type consists of Anga Sutra' and second the ‘Anga Bahya'“Nishith Sutra" is considered among Angas and the remaining Chheda-Sutras are Anga-Bahya. This statement proves the importance of “Nishith Sutra" logically. Later an independent class of Chheda-sutra came into existence and "Nishith” was included among the Chhedasutras. Even then it was being considered within Angas. Nishith-sutra is one of the most dignified and mysterious sutra. The meaning of term “Nishith” is without light i.e. darkness. Nishithe is a mysterious or non-published sutra. This Sutra
cannot be studied by everyone as the commentary Utsarga (general) Vidhi, Apvada B (exceptional) Vidhi and applicable atonements related to the conduct of restrained
shraman and shramani has been narrated in it. Nishitha is a sutra that is taught to an extraordinary able disciple at night in solitude, and in worthy Kshetra and period. Only the readers who have Pramanika-developed a intellect could study it. The students having immature and irrational intellect are not authorized to study the Nishith-sutra. Therefore, the readers who can hold the secret of the sutra for lifetime are authorised to study this sutra. The study of Nishith Sutra can only be done by the three years consecrated monk who is occupied with the attribution of seriousness etc. and the ascetic in respect of age should be more than sixteen years. Any shraman without the study of Nishith-sutra can neither go to beg food from the householder of his relatives nor he can be bestowed the title of upadhayaya even. The knowlodge of the Nishitha-sutra is most essential for appointment as the head of the ascetic group, to travel independently, and to give atonement to other shramana and shramani. In view of it the Nishith-sutra has been presented as the mode of a standard among the Vyavahara Sutras.
The composition of Nishitha Niryulama is from ninth poorva Pratyakhayana. There are twenty vastu i.e. twenty Arthadhikara in this poorva while the third vastu
UKI
WAAHA XIX
(11)
