Dravya Sangraha

Author(s): Nemichandramuni
Publisher: Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir Trust

Page 86

The Sacred Book of the Jains 79 everything else and is the only thing to be meditated on. Jnanachara is the turning of oneself to attainment of the knowledge that the natural characteristics of the soul have no connection with delusion, etc. or attachment and aversion. Charitrachara consists in making the soul tranquil after freeing it from all kinds of disturbances arising from attachment etc., so that it may enjoy perfect bliss. Tapachara consists in the practice of various kinds of penances by which one can conquer reprehensible desire and attain a true conception of the soul. Viryachara is giving full scope to one's inherent power, so the first four Acharas might not be hindered or destroyed.
An Acharya is, therefore, one who is always engaged in all these five kinds of practices, and by precept as well as by example makes his disciples perform the same. Brahmadeva in his commentary quotes the following verse which gives the characteristics of an Acharya :
"छत्तीसगुणसमम्गे पंचविहाचारकरणसएदरिसे ।
सिस्साणुग्गहकुसले धम्मायरिए सदा वंदे।" i. e. "I always bow to Dharmacharya (the preceptor of religion) who possesses the thirty-six qualities, advises the practice of the five kinds of Acharas and is always kind to his disciples."
___ जो रयणत्तयजुत्तो रिणच्चं धम्मोवएसणे हिरदो।
सो उवझाओ अप्पा जदिवरवसहो णमो तस्स ॥५३॥ Jo rayanattayajutto nichcham dhammova-esane nirado, So uvajhao appa jadivaravasaho namo tassa.-(53)
Padapatha... Jo, who. Ut Rayanattaya-jutto, possessed of the three jewels. fqz Nichcham, always. last Dhammovaesane, in preaching religious truth. forcat Nirado, engaged. So, be.aferin Jadivaravasaho, the greatest of great sages. Appa, soul. J9 Uvojhao. Upadhyaya, (teacher). Tassa, to him, A Namo, salutation.
53. That being, the greatest of the great sages who being possessed of the three jewele, is always engaged in preaching the religious truths, is (known as) Upadhyaya (Teacher). Salutation to him.
COMMENTARY
Upadhyaya or Teacher is one who is always engaged in teaching others the tenets of Jainism. He is a man possessed of perfect