Facets of Jaina Religiousness in Comparative Light

Author(s): L M Joshi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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JAINA CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY PENTAD
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It is generally believed that an upādhyāya is versed in eleven Anga texts and fourteen Purva texts. Knowledge of these twenty-five scriptural texts constitutes an upādhyāya's twenty-five merits. They (the upādhyāyas) have several other ethical virtues in common with the sādhus.
The Pañcādhyāyī throws some light on the intellectual equipment of the upādhyāya and draws an important distinction between him and the ācārya. It says that the upādhyāya dispels doubts and answers questions; he is a logician (vādī), and an expert in the theory of non-absolutism (syadvadakovida), he is skilled in speech, he knows everything about the sanctity of words (vāgbrahmasarvajña), and is expert in doctrinal treatises. The chief feature of an upādhyāya is his experience in the scriptures; he is a guru who himself studies (the scriptures) and teaches them to his pupils. The remaining features, the observance of vows etc., are common to all (the other ascetics). An upādhyāya can give instruction about the Dharma, but he cannot issue a commandment of Dharma. This latter can be done by an ācārya or sūri.107 III. vii, THE SĀDHUS
The word sādhu generally means good, proper, righteous, virtuous, pious, honourable, venerable; an ascetic, a saint, a chaste person, a monk, and a devotee. In Jaina tradition, a sādhu usually means an ordained monk; śramana, muni, yati and yogi are interchangeable with sādhu.
As the fifth and last member of the holy pentad, the sādhus as a class of holy personages are esteemed and worshipped by devout men and women of Jaina community. As has been pointed out above, sādhus include ācāryas and upādhyāyas who constitute third and fourth category of holy personages included in the pentad. The sādhus constitute the third refuge in the formula of four-fold refuge. The Causarana-Paiņņa ya (vv. 31-41) contains following eulogistic description of the sādhus.
"Relatives of the world of living beings, gone to the far bank of the river of evil states of life, very eminent, making people attain pleasant happiness by knowledge and other means, the Sadhus (are my) refuge. Kevalins, having supreme clairvoyant powers, having mind-reading powers, knowing the scriptures, teachers and preceptors in the Jina's doctrine, all those Sādhus (are my) refuge. Possessors of fourteen, ten, or nine Pūrvas, and (those) who possess twelve or eleven Angas, the Jinakalpikas, the Yathālandikas, and the Sädhus purified by penance. And those having milk-producing speech, honey-producing speech, divided sense organs, and granary minds, having the power of motion, of changing their bodies, and of com
107.
Pañcadhyāyi (of Rājamalla), II. 659, 661-662 quoted after Jainadharmāmýta, edited by Hiralal Jain, p. 92.