________________
CHAPTER IX THE PURĀNAS ON SACRAMENTAL, ETHICAL
AND PHILOSOPHICAL PLANES It is interesting to note that the Jaina Purānic authors, who are usually critical of the Brahmanıcal rites and rituals, prescribe the same sacramental and expiatory observances as are laid down in the epic-Purānic works and Smptis of the Brahmapical school Among the authors, Jinasena appears to be pioncer to have attached great importance to the sacraments in moulding and refining the character of an individual Like Brahmanical Smrtz-writers, he holds that without undergoing purificatory rites an individual cannot achieve physical, intellectual as well as spiritual culture So, he prescribes two types of rites to be performed by all the members of the three twiceborn classes The first type of sacraments is called Garbhānvaya (conceptual) and the second is styled as Dikşāndaya (initiatory). The number of the Garbhänvayas 18 fifty-three and that of the Dikşāndayas, forty eight 3
Of the two sets of sacraments the first is prescribed for the original members of the Jaina community and the second is intended for the non-Jaipas desirous of embracing the Jaina faith Thus, according to Jinasena, the Non-Jainas were required to undergo some formalities before they were admitted into the Jaina community 3 As the Garbhandaya rites are performed to wash off the taint inherent in the body of the child from its parents, so the Dikşānvaya ceremonies are intended to remove the sins inherent in the nature of the convert due to his prior adherence to the heretical order Thus, by going through all the sacraments according to the rules laid down in
1 A1P 38 47-49 2. Ibid, 88.02. 8. Ibid., 39.78.
