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THREE KINDS OF ŚRĀVAKA
, A Jain householder is called śrāvaka. One who listens to the message of the detached Arihanta and Nirgrantha guru contained in the scriptures with faith and devotion is called a śrāvaka. All śrāvakas cannot follow the path of ahimsă-conduct with the same perfection because the conditions, inclination, and capacity of each one of them are not uniform. Therefore, with reference to ability and strength śrāvakas are said to be of three kinds - 1.Pāksika, 2. Naisthika, and 3.Sādhaka. In technical terms these three are called - Prārabdha deśasamyami, Ghatamāna deśasaiyami, and Nispanna deśasaryami.
PĀKŠIKA ŚRĀVAKA (PRIMARY JAIN LAYPERSON)
He is an ordinary Jain who was either born in a Jain family or was initiated into it accepting it to be a true religion. Both these types are primary Jain śrāvakas. The only thing they know and believe is that Jainism alone truly leads to beatitude of soul. But they also have to accept some primary codes or vows, for example avoiding consumption of meat, alcohol, honey, and five kinds of udumbara (gular; Ficus glomerata) like fruits; paying homage and doing worship of Tīrthankara everyday; not eating during night, drinking filtered water, and not indulging in gambling. Without these resolves it is not possible to acquire the values of Jainism and a distinct identity. To progress on the spiritual path these codes are the first steps.
NAISTHIKA ŚRĀVAKA (DEVOTED JAIN LAYPERSON)
The śrävaka who has faith in vows and who sincerely observes the vows is called Naisthika śrāvaka. The eleven pratimās (stages of renunciation for a layman) formulated for a śrāvaka is based on progressive purification of soul at every level till he crosses the tenth level. Such scientific code of conduct is available in no other religion. Whatever vows such śrāvaka is observing he does so without any fault or transgression. Therefore, he is always alert or conscious to his observation of vows.
SĀDHAKA ŚRĀVAKA (ACCOMPLISHED JAIN LAYPERSON)
Once the tenth pratimā (special codes) is crossed and the śrāvaka starts observing the eleventh pratimā he is called Sadhaka śrāvaka.
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