________________
130
Essence of Jainism
Its Ceremony in ancient days
But before we answer these questions, we should know one thing. It is that the ceremony of · Āvašyaka kriya' is very much older than the times of Cūrņi. A prominent Ācārya like Haribhadrasūri refers to it in his · Avašyakavrtti' (p. 790). The ceremony is handed down mostly without any change, as it is in the Śvet. āmbara idol-worshipping sect. Not so with the Sthāna kavāsi sect. This becomes clear when we refer to the Samācāri of the Gacchas like Tapāgaccba and Kbarataragaccha. In the samācāri of the Sthanakavāsi sect, just as the number of the sutras to be muttered is reduced, so is reduced the ancient ceremony. No such reduction or change is found in the ancient ceremony of the kriya in the Samācari of Tapāgaccha. Kharataragaccha etc. This means that the six sūtras, their order, the intermediary ceremony etc., are the same with them as they are laid down by Haribhadrasuri.
The Meaning
The Kriya that is a must, that should be invariably undertaken is Avašyaka, It is not the same for all, but differs from person to person according to his qualification. We should therefore know the necessary qualifications before we know what it is.
Normally, embodied animals are divided into two : (1) Those endowed with external vision, and (2) Those endowed with internal vision. Those who are endowed with internal vision, are those whose vision is leaning towards Ātmā. Here, the Kriyā applies only to them who are trying hard to reveal natural happiness in their life. The statement fixes up one thing. Those persons who have not forgotten their selves in the gross elements of life, those whose vision not blurred by the external charms of things have to resort to this Avašyaka karma, which can lead to effortless happiness of the Ātmā. Persons endowed with internal vision fossess virtues like right faith, consciousness, and conduct; only they are qualified to experience natural effortless happiness. The activities therefore that become helpful in the due development of these virtues
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
