Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 2
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
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as the right conduct pregnant with right knowledge is appreciable, similarly only that knowledge is meaningful and useful which results in right conduct.
In Jain congregation, the designation of Up dhy ya is next to c rya in the hierarchical line. The main function of this rank is teaching. Up dhy ya teaches the scriptures to the monks ( rama as).
Sw dhy ya-S tra literature in the form of Dw da mg , propounded by Lord Jina, had been narrated, described and compiled by scholars. The one who discourses these, is known as Up dhy ya (Upade a rama a). Sth n mga V tti, describes Up dhy ya as S trad t - the one who gives the teachings of Stras. It means that in order to maintain the clarity, purity, vividness stability and irrevocability of the original texts of the Stras, he imparts training, both from traditional and linguistic point of view to the rama as. This in turn greatly helps to keep the gamas intact.
To articulate the scriptures or rather to go through it syllable after syllable is not considered as reading at all. Anuyoga Dw ra describes sixteen types of adjectives - ik ita, Jita, Sthita, Mita, Parijita, N masama, Gho asama, Ah n k ara, Atyak ara, Aty vidhy sara, Askhalita, Amilita, Avyaty mredita, Pratip r a, Pratip r a-Gho a and Ka ho ha vipramukta. S tra p ha had to be maintained undamaged and in tact in its original, pure form. Hence, even after so long a time, such vast gama literature remains as it was in the yore, without any change.
The original text of S tras forms the basis for the meaning or interpretation of it. So, all precautions are taken to maintain the original in its pure form, by giving a lot of importance to, and stress on studying with perfect pronunciation; and hence the origin of the separate rank of 'Up dhy ya', who takes care of all these things.
Pravartaka (Preacher): To provide assistance to the c rya in fulfilling his responsibilities, to contribute to the progress and development of Dharma congregation, to ensure that the rama as adhere to the rules of the conduct and to guide them in their dynamic progress, the Pravartaka rank was created together with other ranks.
