________________
104
Jaina Acara : Siddhānta aura Swarūpa
an animal happily. On the first day of the bright lunar fortnight he takes one 'datti' (uninterrupted flow of food or water) of food and the same of water. From the second day till the fifteenth (full moon day) he goes on increasing one 'datti' of both every day, In the dark half he goes on decreasing likewise. On the last day of the dark fortnight he must fast.
The second vow necessitates fifteen 'dattis' of food and fifteen of water on the first day of the dark lunar fortnight. The monk goes on daily decreasing food and water by one 'datti' of each. In the bright half he goes on increasing it by one. On the full moon day he fasts. For the first twenty-nine days his food and water are of the measurement in 'dattis'. The thirteenth day is the day of fasting. This vow is much harder than the first one. The old learned monks are of three kinds : (1) Jātisthavira, i.e. one who is sixty years old. This classification is with reference to age. (2) Sūtrasthavira, i.e. who has attained mastery of 'Sthānanga' and 'Samavāyārga'. (3) Pravrajyāsthavira, i.e. who was initiated twenty years back.
The educational periods are (1) a full week (2) four months (3) șix months. Those below eight years are not eligible for initiation. They are not entitled to study Acārārga. This can be studied not before three years of initiation. Four years after initiation a monk is permitted to study "Sutrakrtānga; five years after 'Dasašrutaskandha' as also 'Vmatkalpa; eight years after Sthanahga, Samavayanaga, ten year after Bhagawati; eleven years after Laghuvimānapravibhakti; Mahavimāna Pravibhakti; Angacūlikā, Vangaculikā and vivāha-Culikā; twelve years after Arunopāpācika, Garulopapatika, Dharano pāpātika, Vaisravanobatīka and Vailandharopāpatika; thirteen years after Upasthānasruta, Samupasthānsruta. Devendropāpāta and Nagarapariyajāntikā, after fourteen years Svapnabhāvanā; after fifteen years Caranabhāvanā; after sixteen years Vednišataka and Nisītha; after seventeen years Asivisabhavānā; after eighteen years Dristīvisabhāvana; after nineteen years Dșstivāna and after twenty years all kinds of scriptures.
The unstinted and willing service at the feet of the head preceptor and other senior authorities leads to the annihilation of Karma.
(20) Nišitha-It is also a code of conduct. The meaning of the title is lack of light. Since there are many exceptions to the code, a monk of mature intelligence alone can make a profitable use of it. Expiation has been dealt with exhaustively. To save one's feet from mud asking others to place stones as a safety measure or to make them construct stairs in order to ascend higher up or arranging a drain for no water to collect at one place, to get some implements sharpened or to ask for them purposelessly are all against the spirit of law. To get the pots of wood, sand or of scooped gourd cleaned by others or get them repaired or bind them haphazardly, to take torn cloth and make it usable or to get it mended more than three times, to
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
