ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 365

5.5
Das Lak a a Dharma/ Ten Commandments/ Ten virtues
Dr Shikhar Chand Jain
Most of us are always busy in our daily life such as business, service or whatever profession a person has adopted as the means of livelihood. We are so much absorbed in worldly life that our real cause of life is marred, neglected such as how to concentrate on spiritual development leading to good health, well behavior, be a law abiding citizen and a good neighbor, honest and cooperative person with a nice peaceful family life.
Our ancient philosophers, thinkers, preceptors and teachers have ordained certain commands, teachings to observe them for ten days in the year we are reminded of these principles by which following them we may keep our perfect health and tread on the path of righteousness thus making this world free from hatred, violence, smuggling and trafficking.
Now these ten observances or commands have been propounded by the great genius Um sw mi in his Tattv rthas tra as:
Uttamak am IX.6
m rdav rjava auca satyasa yama tapas ty ga kincanya brahm c rya i dharmah.
These ten commands have been named as Daslak a a Dharma or ten commands or ten observances. Daslak a a Dharma is also known as Paryu a a Mah Parva, Pajjosava a, Parivas a, Pajusa a, Vasavaso. All the sects of Jains celebrate this festival; the Digambaras for ten days while the wet mbaras for eight days.
All over the world this way or that way these sorts of observances are celebrated. The Christians observe it in their own way while the Muslims, Persians and Hindus they have own peculiar ways following the righteous life of honesty, simplicity, fasting, charity and compassion whatever may be the way of following observances, the aim is one, perfection in life full of love, fraternity and peace all over the world.
This festival is celebrated by the Jains every year during the months of February Magha), April (Chaitra), and September (Bhadrapada) from the fifth day of bright moon fortnight to the 14 day. Bhadrapada (September) month has been observed as the best for accounting ones own self right and wrong doings. During these days the pontiffs observe Caum s (four months stay) and almost stay at one place and meditate upon self. These days the ascetics devote themselves for study, teaching and imparting sermons to the devotees. The devotees get an opportunity to talk freely to the ascetics and sometimes learn scriptures from them. There are free classes for teaching religious books. In the sth nakas people sit, meditate upon self and practice silence (
mauna).
For these ten days everyone day is devoted to a particular observance and according to the day there is discourse on that particular subject like austerity, forgiveness whatever it may.
Bhadon month (September) has been considered to be the best month for observing these Daslakshana days. Malli Nath Purana observes, oh! It is the best month as it inspires for religious activities and in this month due to a number of holy events occurring and described in the Jain texts. The observance of these ten commands help in development of mental, vocal and physical concentration and help in control over five senses and four passions, anger, pride, greed the root cause of all evils.
The day starts early in the morning with ablution of the lord. To see this ablution is a great achievement for the devotees. There is peace, serenity and complete harmony in the atmosphere. There is the discussion, discourse on Kalpasutra and other religious scriptures by the wet mbaras while there is scripture reading in the morning and evening. In the evening there are religious discussions, meetings, prayers (rati) with lamps and devotional songs and dances.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0