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Jaina Acāra : Siddhānta aura Swarupa The Digambaras have divided them into 'Ksullaka' and 'Ailaka'. The first put on only one cloth and like ascetics do not eat standing. The severe penances meant for monks like 'atapara' are forbidden for them. Since they are like monks, but not monks and hence the difference. They may accept food in bronze vessels and the like. The second use nominal cloth to cover the privities. They eat in a standing position and pluck their hair.
Sakalakirti says that they need little sleep and in no case more than forty-eight minutes. Latisambita says that kšullakas are permitted to use bronze or iorn pots, but Sakalakīrti holds that they may use pots made of whatsoever metal and also plates and the like.
. The Svetāmbaras say that the ideal duration for the first special vow is a month, and one more month for each succeeding vow. The period for the eleventh vow is thus eleven months. If one continues this practice for sixty-six months, he is eligible for monkhood. Dasāšrutaskandha and Upasakadasārta have made it still more explicit. The Digambaras, however, have prescribed no limit and have left it to the practitioners according to their will and capacity. In the evening of their life some of them may be initiated whereas others opt for a holy death. They have classified them into householders “Vani' and ascetics. Those holding the first to sixth vows belong to the first category; from seventh to ninth to the second and the last two belong to the third category. Vasunandi says that such persons may accept alms from various homes or take meals seated at one place. Vows have been treated by most ācāryas but special vows only by a few. Upasakadasāngasutra says that householders like Ananda first practised vows and then special vows. Bhagavatīsūtra refers to a rich man named Kartika. He was the chairman of a thousand and eight trade corporations. He had practised the fifth special vow a hundred times. A young monk desired the rich man to bow to him. At the king's instance he poured hot 'Khira' on the back of the rich man which he relished to his heart's content. This caused blisters on his back. Since he gladly suffered it all, he became the first god of the upper world.
Special vows are fruitful only when votaries should have known the nine substances. Some are of the opinion that while observing the first special vow, a votary should fast on the first and end it on the second. With the second vow two days' fast and so on till the eleventh vow with its eleven days' fasting. There are others who opine that in the modern times there are very few, if at all, who can observe special vows strictly. There is, however, a clear demarcation between an ascetic and a votary with vows. Nor is it written anywhere that a man of strong constitution alone can fulfil such an arduous task. We have reason to believe that there are still such sincere and devoted souls as can observe special vows with a spirit of dedication and gladly too.
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