Jain Digest 2006 07 Vol 24 No 3

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 12

PAUSHADH
PAUSHADH
Practicing The Life Of Monk
Chatushparvyä Chaturthädi Kuvyäpäranishedhanam Brahmacharyakriyäsnänädi Tyägah Poshadham
--- Yogshästra
(Observance of fast and celibacy, avoidance of undesirable activities, and bath etc. on eighth and fourteenth or fifteenth day of the fortnight constitute the restraint of Paushadh.)
So far we have covered ten restraints. We have now to consider two more. The eleventh restraint and the third
discipline is known as Paushadh. The term is derived from
the Sanskrit verb 'Push' meaning nourish or support. What nourishes the spiritual life is therefore Paushadh, and that is popularly known as Posah. It is observed by refraining from the activities that are not conducive to spiritual pursuit. Observance of this restraint is also supposed to be accompanied by staying close to the true nature of the soul. Staying as such is 'Upväs' in the real sense of the term. This restraint is therefore also known as Paushadhopväs, which is a compound word made of Paushadh and Upväs. For the present discussion, however, we shall use the term Paushadh
Depending upon the emphasis on activity to be restrained, there are following four types of Paushadh. 1) The first is Ähär Paushadh, which means observing
fast.
2) The second is Sharir Satkär Paushadh that stipulates avoidance of bath, oiling, dyeing etc. which are resorted to for rendering the body more attractive.
Paushadh is a discipline for practicing the monastic life for a specific period. The intention is to get training so as to adopt that life when possible. Mostly, the males observe the Paushadh in the presence of monks and the females in the presence of nuns in their respective Upäshrayas. They usually observe it from morning to evening on the eighth and fourteenth or fifteenth day of a lunar fortnight, while some of them observe it for the day as well as the night. During Paryusana some people observe it for all the eight days consecutively. Eight days consist of 64 (Chosath)
3) The third is Brahmacharya Paushadh that stipulates Prahars of 3 hours each. It is therefore known as Chosath avoidance of sensuous pleasure.
Prahari Posah.
4) The fourth is Avyäpär Paushadh that requires refraining from the routine worldly activities.
Manubhai Doshi, Chicago, Il
This four fold classification is hardly taken note of by the observers. In fact, most of the people are not even aware of these four categories, though they are specified in Posah Sutra, which is invariably recited by the observers of this restraint. The people are also not aware that the said Sutra also provides for the option of observing this restraint partly or in entirety as may be suitable to the observers. In actual practice, however, the people observing this restraint, abide by all the four aspects simultaneously. Those, who cannot fast for the whole day, avail of the option of taking one meal; while the others stay without food altogether. The remaining three aspects are practiced in entirety. In what follows, we are therefore going to dis
cuss this restraint the way it is generally observed at present.
During Paushadh much emphasis is laid on the ritual known as Pratilekhan. let us therefore first explain it. This
ritual calls for carefully examining the clothes and other articles that are used during Paushadh. The purpose is to remove the insects and other bugs that might have crept in and to put them in a safe place. This has to be done without causing any violence and in a way that does not hurt even
the minute insects. That is popularly known as Padilehan, which is the Prakrut term of Pratilekhan. The observer of Paushadh is supposed to perform that ritual three times.
The formalities for undertaking Paushadh are laid in great details. We shall, however, deal here with the major first decides to make use of only the bare minimum articles aspects only. The person desiring to observe this restraint required during Paushadh. Such requirements are usually restricted to two pieces of clothes, a woolen seat known as Katäsan, a folded white kerchief to be held against the threads known as Charavalä, which is used to lightly remouth, which is known as Muhapatti, a whisk of woolen
move the insects etc. and a cotton waist bend known as Kandorä.
For undertaking Paushadh, the aspirant first performs the Rai Pratikraman during the early morning. Then he carries out Pratilekhan of the articles that he intends to make use of. Then he undertakes the formalities similar to those
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