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COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
The five aticāras of this vow as mentioned by Samantabhadra are common to both the Digambara and Svetāmbara traditions. a) vāg-dus-pranidhāna consists in engaging in talks about family matters when performing Såmāyika; b) kāya-duşpranidhana refers to making such movements of the body as will affect selfrestraint. Haribhadra says that transgression of the vow occurs when the aspirant fails to scrutinize the ground and clean it softly before sitting thereon; c) mano-dușpraņidhåna occurs when the mind is swayed by anger, deceit, pride, avarice, and envy due to anxieties of mundane affairs; d) anādara is lack of zeal or proper enthusiasm in the practice of Sāmāyika. It is also called anavasthita-karaṇa as meaning failure to observe the proper formalities in the practice of the vow; e) asmaraṇa is forgetfulness of the verses to be recited or lack of concentration.
The object of this vow is to snatch moments of detachment from worldly affairs, its cares and worries, love and hatred and above all the attainment of equanimity of mind and concentration at the time of meditation. Some writers have associated pūja and other rituals with it.
3) Proşadhopavāsa
Among the austerities prescribed by Jainism, fasting is the most conspicuous: the Jainas have developed it to a kind of art and reached a remarkable proficiency in it.42 Fasting has to be observed on the 8th (aştami) day and 14th day (caturdaśl) of each half of the lunar month. The Digambara texts require that the fast should commence from the noon preceding the date of fast and continue till the mid-day following the fasting day, that is for a total period of 48 hours. Most of the Śvetāmbara writers mention a period of twenty-four hours only as the period of fast on the aforesaid days. The fast may be observed in one's own home, a temple, or the place where an ascetic is putting up. During the period of fast, there should be not only a relinquishment of all kinds of pleasures of the senses but also of participation in the house-hold affairs including trade and business. The day should be spent in worship and meditation including the reading
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