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GUNAVRATA AND UPASAKADASANGA
Gunavrata is a kind of vow concerned with householders. It is a reinforcing vow and also known as qualitying vow. Different types of vows are practised by monks and householders. The vows of monks are known as mahāvratas or great vows. Monks accept their vows with full strength and complete awareness. That is why their vows are called Sarvavirata (totally abstained). On the other hand a householder can not accepts his vow in full strength like that of a monk due to fulfill his social obligations. Thus the vows of householders are called Deśavirata (partial). Partial vows are 12 in numbers and divided into three categories viz. 1.5 Anuvratas (minor vows), II.3 Gunavratas (qualitying vows) and III. 4 Siksavratas (Supplementary or Educative vows) this is much developed and later division of the partial vows. The earlier division is rather different and only categorised in two parts- 1.5 Anuvratas and II.7 Sikśāvratas. That is found in ancient Jain canonical scriptures.
Jain scriptures are known as Agama and found in large numbers. The Agamas are divided into Anga, Upanga, Mülasūtra, Chedasūtra, Prakirṇaka and others. The Anga is the oldest among all the Agamas. It is 12 in numbers, but exist only 11. The Upäsäkadasangais one of them. It describes the vows and lifestyles of those Jain householders who live at that time when Lord Mahavir was alive. In this Adga Agama the partial vows are divided into two categories- 15 Anuvratas and II. 7 sikävratas We have several editions of this Anga-Agama by different scholars and monks. Most of them describe the two categories of the partial vows. But some editions of the Upasakadasanga contain the later divisions of the partial vows i.e. 1.5 Anuvratas, I1.3 Guhavratasand 11.4 siksavratas. This usage creates a scholasicitic problems. To check them we collect following editions of the Upasakadalanga
1. Upasagadasão: Edpt. Bechardas Doshi, Prākritavidyā Mandala. L.D. Istitute of Indology, Ahmedabad. 2. Upasakadasanga: Ed. Amolak Rishi, Jaina Shashtrodhara Mudarnalaya, Sikandarabad, 1972
Jain Education International
Dr. Rajjan Kumar
3. Uvāsagadasão (Angasuttāni, Pt-3); Acarya Tulsi, Jaina Vishva Bharati, Ladnum (Raj) 2031
4. Uvāsagadasão: Shri Madhukar Muni Agama Prakashana Samiti, Byavar (Raj). 2037
5. Upasakadasangasütra: Shri Ghasilalji, swetambar sthanakvasi jain singh, karachi, 1993
6. Upāsakadaśā: (Agama Sudha Sindhu) :- Shri Jinendra Vijayagani, Harsha Pushpamruta Jaina Granthamālā Lakhabavala, shantipuri (Saurashtra)
7. Uvāsagadasão: (Abhayadeva Commentary) Pt. Bhagvandas Harshachand Jainanarda pustakalaya sopipur, surat, 1992
Among all the above editions of the upāsakadasanga only two edited by Madhukar Muni and Ghasilalji describe the three division of the partial vows. In both the editions the reading (patha) is in the form of the preachings of Lord Mahavir. Both the editors conclude the same reading in different ways. Madhukar Muni adds some readings in such a way that it looks like an original reading of the Upasakadaśānga. On the other hand, shri Ghasilalji quotes it as a supplment reading. We can observe and compare both the readings in following ways:
(धर्मकथामूलम्)
अगारधम्मं दुवालसविहं आइक्खड़, तंजहा पंच अणुब्वयाई, तिण्णि गुणब्बयाई, चत्तारि सिक्खावयाई ॥ पंच अणुब्वया, तंजहा .......|| तिष्णि गुणब्बयाई, तंजहा- अणत्थदंडवेरमणं, दिसिब्वयं, उपभोगपरिभोगपरिमाणं । चत्तरि सिक्खावयाई, तंजा सामाइयं, देसावगासियं, पोसहोववासे, अतिहिसंविभागे,. ...... आणाए आराहए भवइ ॥ २
अगारधम्मं दुवासलविहं आइक्खड़, तं जहा पंच अणुब्वयाई, तिणि गुणव्वयाई, चत्तारि सिक्खावयाई पंच अणुब्वयाई, तं जहा ---| तिण्णि गुणण्वयाई तं जहा अणत्थदंडवेरमणं, दिसिव्वयं, उवभोगपरिभोगपरिमाणं चत्तारि सिक्खाववाई, तं जहां सामाइयं, देसावगासिय पोसहोववासे, अतिहिसंविभागे ......... ! आणाए आराहए भवइ ।
We can also observe that those editions of the upāsakadaśänga which do not mention the reading, contain the word gunavrata. The readings are as follows: तरणं समणे भगवं महाबोरे आणंदस्स गाहावईस्स गाहावईस्स
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