Jain Journal 1999 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 8

82
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXIII, No. 3 January 1999 half millennium the four-fold congregation of the Jaina-Sangha has practised this benevolence act of däna and the spirit of it has ceased. It is an historical fact attested by hundreds of inscriptions that this act of liberal grants by the Jaina laity, the secular and religious life of India is the beneficiary. There are four kinds of dāna, āhārafood, auşadha olim bhaisajya-medicine, abhaya, shelter to living beings with fear of injury or death and sāstra, religious literature.
The donor should decide carefully which individuals are worthy to receive his gifts. The act of charity is so well designed that the members of the laity should choose the proper items, proper time proper receipients and proper cause, even in these meritorious persuits. The act of sharing with ascetic or worthy guests or respectful service is called atithi-sam-vibhaga and Vaiya-Vșttya The delicacy involved in the issue of charity is worth pondering; there are five transgressions (aticäras) of this danavrata
1. Placing food on a living thing like green leaf. 2. Covering food with a living thing. 3. Delegation of host's duties to someone. 4. Lack of respect in giving, or being envious of another donor. 5. Not giving at the proper time.
Such acts of carelessness or lack of sincerity are forbidden. The donor should shun all ego, should be humble, should not expect any reward or fame in return, should not regret.
The unique concept of Śästra-dāna, to distribute free copies of precious religious texts, has helped the literati to have an easy access to the required Granthas. Invariably a well-arranged and uptodate Śruta-bhāņdāra, library was attached to all Jain-temples; to-put it the other way, Jinālayas used to maintain good libraries. Jains had always given priority to learning and education. Whenever a monk or a nun required a Šāstra-Grantha a canonical text for Svādhyāya, it was made easily available in the Śruta-Bhāndāra a system prevalent to this day, both in the north and south.
This paper attempts to illustrate how the act of Šāstra-Dana has helped the field of religion and literature in Karnātaka, by citing out of a number of instances, only two examples of the Women celebraties.
(A)
Attimabbe (C.950-1018 C.E), an illustrious lady was honoured by Tailapa-II (973-997), the emperor of the Kalyāņa Calukyas with the coveted title of dānacintāmaņi which means 'a gem yielding everything