________________
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
511
hood, so it is not necessary to carry out 'Upadhana'. But we maintain that this sort of training is meant for forming religious and spiritual impressions on the children so that later on in life they observe the necessary rites; but they have not grasped and understood these sutras from their 'teacher' properly and such sutras not properly grasped and understood do not bring about proper results. Therefore, penances like 'Upadhana' are necessary for proper grasping and understanding of 'sutras'.
Some people further argue, "Every year millions of rupees are being wasted in 'Upadhana' ceremonies. There is no apparent fruit available? Then it is no use observing this ‘Upadhana'. We should also reply : Before forty or fifty years ‘Upadhana' was observed very scarcely as the monks were very few in number and 'Upadhana' was not so popular. Today the number of monks has increased and many people have started understanding the significance of 'Upadhana' and every year 'Upadhana' is carried out in different cities. Various benefits are derived from 'Upadhana'. First benefit is that through 'Upadhana' Lord's commands are obeyed. Second benefit is that one can continuosly observe 18 fasts, 8 Ayambils and 18 one meal fasts at a stretch which are very difficult to be observed in normal parlence. These penances through fastings annihilate karmas. Third benefit is that one becomes accustomed to monkish-order of life as one has to observe 'Posaha'. Fourth advantage is that man loses attachment for body and later on man refrains from committing various kinds of sins. Fifth benefit is that a man gets trained in controlling his senses. Sixth benefit is that passions are not allowed an ingress into the soul. Seventh advantage is that one comes in contact with the persons desirous of observing religious rites. There are many kinds of advantages besides. Thus expenses of money which are carried out do not become waste but the right use of money. Those who avoid religious rites and are ignorant of many advantages derived through them only criticise in this manner. They defy religious faith of many persons. If they peep deep into reality and personally observe everything then only they would be convinced about most laudable means of spreading religious faith. After "Upadhana' penance is over, people take up many vows which also create very healthy impressions on life.
Those who have dull mind and who cannot concentrate on spiri
