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12
A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
added more to its profoundness by their elaborate exposition. The object of the Nisitha Curni is to explain and elucidate the various points mentioned in the Sutra, Niryukti and Bhasya of Niśitha in which the author has undoubtedly succeeded. Each word has been derived and defined--its meaning explained in the context of Dravya, Kṣetra, Kala and Bhava, and further supplemented with the help of the analogies and illustrations. The original contribution of the NC. lies in its exposition of the ethical tenets in which the author gives a legal sanction to the minor changes which had to be introduced in the monastic life considering the changed social and religious circumstances. Such changes were necessarily required to make the Church-life less severe and adaptable to the monks and also to propogate the Religion amongst nobility and the common
masses.
A
The Nisitha Sutra being divided into 20 udde akas the Nisitha Curni is also divided under the same sections. In the beginning there is a lengthy introduction, called Pithika, in which the fundamentals of Jaina Religion and Ethics have been explained. Rest of the text mentions innumerable rules -covering every aspect of the daily life of the monks including their mode of behaviour inside and outside the Church. clear picture of the subject matter of the NC. can be found from the list of contents specifically mentioned in each volume. The aim of the Nisitha Curn is to prescribe atonements and expiations by means of punishment for transgressions against the ethical rules. To reach the goal the author has explicitly explained the innumerable rules concerned with the monastic life, viz. begging, clothes, requisites, food, shelter, study, travelling, water-travel, the mode of behaviour with the monks, nuns, lay-disciples, royalty, noblemen, common masses and heretics etc. He has prescribed punishments for specific faults and also laid down exceptions to the general rules which could be resorted to by the versed monks under unusual circumstances like famine, epidemic, illness, journey The or insecure political circumstances in a particular state. scheme of classification is based upon the specific form of
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