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The Puranas on Sacramental, Ethical and Philosophical Planes
247
whatever thing he may receive in Lalms 69 However, a Kşatrija Brahmacānın is given a concession with regard to the observance of this particular item inasmuch as he is allowed to collect alms in the harem as a symbol of observing the rule 60
Thus, like the epic-Puranic poets and Smpti-writers, Jinasena makes the Upanayana sacrament compulsory for all the boys of the three higher classes in general and for the Brāhmana boys in parcicular And, as stated before, it is this rite which confers on the initiated Dolja-hood Besides, the author also shares the Brahmanical view that by undergoing the initiation ceremony, boy of the twice-born classes enters the most formative period of his life which is designated as Brahmacaryāśrama 61 Thus, the Upanayana Samskara, as prescribed by Jinasena, takes us back to the period in which it was regarded as both an educational sacrament and a compulsory purificatory rite conferring Doija-hood on the initiated.
Vratacaryā68 (observance of rules or dows)
The rite, although separately mentioned as an independent sacrament, is, indeed, intimately connected with the Upanayana sacrament It is like the Brahmanıcal Vratadesa63 (commandment to the Brahmacärın for the observance of the vows) and the duties prescribed under this head are in substantial agreement with thosc enjoined in the Brahmanical texts on the topic In accordance with the prescribed code of conduct, a Brahmacärin must abstain from killing. He should use neither tooth-brush nor betel nor even collyrium Nor should be take bath with termeric, etc but he should take
50 तस्मिन् दिने प्रविष्टस्य भिक्षार्थं जातिवेश्मसु । योऽर्थलाभ. स देयः स्यादुपाध्यायाय सादरम् ।।
sbid 40 163 For this and similar other items of the initiation rite compare Hindu Samskära, pp 163-170 00 asta.t aid arsur fautrefa 70T I
-MP. 38,108a. 61 Vide MBK XII 191.8, 62 MP 38 109-120 83 Manu 2,1738
