________________
136
Jaina Acara : Siddhanta aura Swarūpa
If a monk or nun goes to beg at a lay votary's house and there be only one lay lady, the monk must not stay there unless there be witnesses who should be an old monk or nun.
They shall not accept food if their hands be wet as also lines on the hand, the tips of their nails, beard and whiskers. They may take it only when all is dry.
For the rainy season monks and nuns may keep three pots and a mātraka. They may be of three kinds: scooped gourd, wood and sand. Three pots are needed: one for excretion, one for urine and the third for phlegm.
Some others keep no pots to save themselves from avoidable injury. Jinakalpi and sky-clad monks may or may not be without utensils bul those who eat from the palms of their hands may be both white-clad and Sthavarkalpi.
Kalpasūtra says that the letter, in case of rainfall, must not move towards the house of a votary and enter there for food and water. In case a monk happens to be eating in the open, what he has eaten is all right but the remnant covered with one hand should be pressed against the chest and concealed in an arm-pit. Then he should proceed towards a covered place without disturbing water in any way. A Karapātri should not move out for alms when dew-drops are falling or in the twilight because of duskiness nor should he stay in the open.
Monks, as a rule, accept, twelve special vows as follows:
(1) 'Datti' is food or water that is offered without adding anything to it. Monks are permitted to take but one 'datti'of food and water each. Food should be accepted when the monk knows that it has been prepared for one man alone. It becomes unacceptable, if prepared for more persons than one. It is observable for a month.
(2-7) are observable for a month each. The monk takes two dattis'of food and water each. The succeeding vows see an increase of one datti every month. In the seventh month daitis' will be seven.
The eighth vow is to be observed for seven days and nights. A monk gives up four kinds of food on alternate days. He should meditate in postures, like lying straight with face upwards or lying on one side, or sitting with legs crossed. Monks may prolong their stay because of the con nuing, excessive rain, the non- availability of paths being muddy or the spread of diseases. A fit place for the rainy season must have the qualities as follows (1) where the surroundings are not muddy, (2) where there are not very many worms, (3) where the place for excretion is faultless, (4) where peace prevails, (5) where there is enough of buttermilk and the like, (6) where there are many cultured people, (7) where there is an expert physician,
(8) where medicines are easily available, (9) where householders are Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
