Jain Moral Doctrine

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Vikas Mandal

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JAIN MORAL DOCTRINE
been fully experienced. In such cases, the operation of the Nirjarā is called the 'Savipaka'. The Savipāka Nirjarā, however, takes a long, long time, making the Mokṣa, a far-off attainment, if not an unrealisable one altogether. The other mode of the Nirjara annihilates the accumulated Karmas without allowing their fruition. This is called the 'Avipäka' Nirjara which hastens the attainment of the Mokṣa.* The Avipaka Nirjarā involves "Tapa' or the practice of ascetic austerities. The Tapa thus effects Samvara on the one hand and on the other, culminates in the Nirjarā or the destruction of the accumulated Karmas.
The Tapa's or ascetic practices are either 'vahya' or external or 'Abhyantara' or subjective. There are six such forms of the external practices, which are; the Anasana or fasting, the Avamaudarya or eating less and less than what one has the appetite for, the Vritti-parisamkhyāna or acceptance of food from a house-holder, only on certain conditions (which the Tapa-practiser divulges to no body) being fulfilled, the Rasa-parityāga or giving up daily the use of one or more of the following six delicious fluids viz. butter, milk, curd, sugar, salt and oil, the Vivikta-śayyāsana or sitting and sleeping in a lonely place, which is devoid of all animals, and the Kaya-kleśa or subjecting the body to privations and penances, until the mind is disturbed.
The subjective Tapas also are six in number, which are as follows:
1. The Prayaśçitta or expiation. Nine forms of expiation which are recognised by the Jainas are respectively, the Aloçana or confession before the head of the order, the 'Pratikramana' or repentance for the bad acts done, the Tadubhaya i.e. confession combined with repentance, the Viveka or discontinuance of the enjoyment of a much-liked object e.g. a particular food or drink, the Vyutsarga or unattachment to body, the 'Tapa' or practice of a penance, specially prescribed, the Cheda or degrading a transgressing person before the Order, the Parihara or expulsion of a transgressor from the Order, and the Upasthapana or re-admission of the transgressor into the Order, after his expulsion therefrom.
2. The Vinaya or reverence. It is of four modes, relating respectively to the reverence for the Jñāna, or right knowledge, for Dar
* Nirjarā is described as two-fold, the Savipaka and the Avipaka. The Savipaka Nirjară however takes a long time and is called Akama-nirjarā in the Svetamvara Sastra's. Avipaka Nirjara which hastens the attainment of Mokşa is called Sakāma-nirjara in the religious books of the Svetamvara Sect.
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