Jain Journal 2004 04

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

Page 22

R.P. PODDAR:RELIGION (DHARMA)
223
latter prescribe complete nudity (for the monks). Clarifying the situation about wearing clothes and going nude, Gautama says that the purpose of the outfits is limited to touring in society (for alms) and being recognized as monks by the householders (so that the latter may treat them as such) : ‘jatttham gahanatthaṁ ca loe lingapayoyanaṁ!. In case of the householders too, the formalities are meant for a distinct identity. Every religion has its respective formalities to give it a distinct identity of its own. In respect of the essence they are not much different and therefore efficacious to deliver goods. In the Mahābhārata there is a legend about seșa, apparently seșanāga, being appointed by Brahmā to bear the earth, but really a symbol of dharma which indeed bears the earth and sustains the world. The concluding stanza runs as follows:
seso si nāgottama dharmadevo mahim imām dhārayasi yad ekaḥ/ anantābhogaiḥ parigrhya sarvām yathāham balabhid yathā vāll 1 Ādi. 37.32 (BORI)
Dharma is sesa, because everything in creation flits away, this one is left behind (dharma eko hi niscalah). It is excellent among the nāgas, what doesn't swerve (i.e. what has ‘ārjava'as foremost virtue, vag, tiryag gatau). This alone bears the earth, holding it in its entirety with its infinite hoods (forms).
Notes :
1. There is twofold reckoning of time, one within the numeral system and the other beyond it. The first practically begins with prāņa, the time taken in one exhalation and inhalation of a normal man. From prāņa onwards it proceeds as follows: 7 prāņas = 1 lava, 77 lavas =1 muhūrta; 30 muhūrtas = 1 ahorātra (day), 30 ahorātras = 1 māsa (month); 12 māsas = 1 varşa (year); 84,00, 000 years make one pūrvānga. Then it proceeds further in geometric progression up to 13 terms. Beyond this time is described in terms of simile (aupamika kāla).
The unit of aupamika kāla is palyopama. Palya is conceived as a cylinder, having a diameter and depth of one yojana each=96,000 ft. This palya is supposed to be packed up with hair tips, growing on a normal man's head in less than a week's time. One hair-tip is taken out every hundred years. Time taken in exhausting the palya is one