Dravyasamgraha

Author(s): Nemichandra Acharya, Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

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followed religiously the twenty-eight primary attributes of a Digambara ascetic comprising five supreme vows (mahāvrata), five regulations (samiti), five-fold control of the senses (pañcendriya nirodha), six essential duties (şaļāvasyaka), and seven rules or restrictions (niyama) which comprise not taking bath, sleeping on the ground, renouncing clothes, plucking hair on the head and face by hand, taking food only once in a day, not cleansing the teeth, and taking food in a steady, standing posture.
Muni 108 Shri Vidyanand ji adorned himself with nothing but the Three Jewels (ratnatraya) of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. He engaged himself incessantly in the study of the true religion as per the Holy Scriptures. He considered study to be the sure means for control of the wanderings of the mind and senses. He became wholly acquainted with the conduct required of an ascetic and purified his daily routine accordingly. Parama Pūjya Ācāryaratna 108 Shri Deshbhushan ji Mahārāja, on 17 November, 1974, in Delhi, conferred the title of Upādhyāya (Preceptor) on him.
Upādhyāya 108 Vidyanandji took further strides in his observances of faith, knowledge, conduct and austerities. He had unwavering faith that the pure Self was the only object belonging to the self and all other objects, including the karmic matter (dravya karma and no-karma) were alien. He reckoned that the pure Self had no delusion, and was distinct from attachment and aversion. He became free from all corrupting dispositions. He cheerfully undertook penances with due control of the senses. He carried out all these observances with full vigour and intensity, without concealing his true strength. He had all the essential attributes of an Acārya (Chief Preceptor).
On 28 June 1987, in Delhi, the four-fold congregation of the Jainas, under the direction of Parama Pūjya Ācāryaratna 108 Shri Deshbhushan ji Mahārāja, conferred the title of Ācārya (Chief Preceptor) on him. Endowed with great wisdom and experience about the conditions of existence in the land, Parama Pūjya Ācārya 108 Vidyanand ji Munirāja became an ideal Acārya to lead his congregation in all respects, including the prescription of proper penances in regard to transgressions by
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