Jain Thought and Culture

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 84

74
Jain Thought and Culture
Tirthankaras became liberated from all the desires there was no necessity to make their icons and offer service to them They attached importance to faith and not to worship, while the Mandir Margis even worshipped the Hindu gods like Hanuman and Bairava
Oswals believed in non-violence. For this very reason they desisted from killing even the smallest insects and took food only in the day lest the insects in the night might be killed They filtered the water through colth lest the insects might go into their stomach and be killed For obtaining the knowledge of Jainism they attended on the Jain Sadhus While doing so they put a small cloth (mumatı) round the lips hanging by string from their ears lest the insects may be killed by the steam of their mouth They also observed Samai (sanyam-visesha 1e, meditation) and Posa (Paushadha e fasts done on the 8th & 14th days of the months of the Vikrama and oher festival days of the Jains with particular rites etc) which was a part of their routine affair During Samai they kept a mumti (cloth round the lips) and cited the mantras with rosary in hand For Posa they observed fasts on Ashtami, Chaturdashi etc and other holy-days Bhadrapada was the month of Athai and Pajusana when they kept fast for eight days continuously from Bhadrapada Badi Ehadası to Bhadrapada Sudi Chaturthi and some did it from Bhadarapada Badi Chaturdası to Bhadrapada Sudi Chaturthi or Panchami Others started the fasts from Ashadha Sudi Chaturdası and continued uplo Bhadrapada Sudi Chaturthi and some did it with a gap of two days This series of fasts known as Chhamachhari Some observed the fasts from Ashadha Sudi Chatudası to Kartik Sudi Chaturdası with a gap of few days in between and this series was known as Chaumasa (fasts of the rainy season) During the season of fasts they attended the discourses of the Jain Sadhus (saints) in the temples, Upasaras and Thanakas Sadhus recited the Jain Sutras and preached sympathy and non-violence
About two percent of the Oswals were Vaishnavas They worshipped Vishnu and had their fasts according to Vaishnava tradition In spite of this religious difference, Oswals were one community as the Jain and Vaishnava Oswals continued to inter-dine and inter-marry
The social customs of the 19th century were simpler than today In the betrothal of daughter the bride's side used to send a coconut and some jaggery to bridegroom's house and when it was accepted