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Āvaśyaka Kriya
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are designated Avaśyaka karma. Thus Āvas yaka-necessary activities - are those that are positively necessary for the revelation of the virtues like knowledge etc.
Such necessary activities and knowledge are both result-oriented, i.e., undertaken with a view to their usefulness. The same is known as Āvāsaka' because it makes the Ātmā endowed with and rich in virtues. These are known as 'Nitya karma' in the Vedic terminology. In the Jain terminology, words synonymous with •Āvasya’ are ‘Avasya kartavya', dhruva, Nigraba, Visodhi, Adhyayanaşatkavarga, Nyāya, Ārādhanā, Mārga etc. 1
Nature of the six Āvašyakas Avaśyaka kriya on he face of it is divided into six :
(i) Sāmāyika, (ii) 24 stavans, (iii) Vandana, (iv) Pratikramaņa, (v) Kāyotsarga, and (vi) Pratyākhyāna.
(1) Sāmāyika
One should remain in equanimity or neutrality instead of subjecting ones self to attachmeat and jealousy. This would mean behaving with all as one would behave towards ones owo self, This is Sāmāyikas. It is divided into three as (i) Samyaktvasāmāyika, (ii) Śrutasāmāyika, and (iii) Caritrasamāyika, because, one can steady ones self in equaoimity only by means of rightness, know. 'ledge and conduct. Following the individuals qualified, Caritra. sāmāyika has two sub-divisions as (a) deśacāritra and (b) sarvacaritra. The former is meant for householders while the latter is meant of Sadhus.3 The synonyms of Sāmāyika are-Samatā, Samyaktva, śānti, Suvihita etc.4
1. Āvaśyakavịtti, p, 53, 2. Āvaśyak a Niryukii, Gathā 1032. 3. As above, Gāthā 796. 4. As above, Gāthā 1033.
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