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Jaina Acāra : Siddhānta aura Swarūpa
the years to come. He gave a scientific interpretation of austerity and analysed it deeply. His disciples, too, engaged themselves in regular and timely penances. The Buddhistic literature also refers to their heroic penances. The houseless ascetics have succeeded in building a lasting edifice of austerity. In canonical literature like Bhagavati ascetics have been shown as great not only in faith, conduct and action but also in penances. All founders of faith have practised hard austerities in their previous births. They reached their culmination in the life Jainas know of. Lord Mahavira's penances are simply fabulous.
The word 'tapa' (penance) etymologically means self-mortification. What penetrates blood, bones, fat and marrow, what exterminates the inauspicious consequences of actions, what burns them literally is the right spiritual endeavour. The commentator Malayagiri says that it brings to an end eight kinds of Karmas. Such is the view expressed in Sthānāngravritti and by Jinadasagani. Penances do not regulate mere diet but also attenuate evil impressions and defilement of all sorts as also perversion. It is penances alone that strengthen a mendicant's resolve to be desireless. Who does not know that one desire leads to another and that desires are endless. Austerities alone bring them to a happy end. All renunciation of a man burning with desires is fake and meaningless. There is no greater sin than self-deception. Somadeva advocated control of sense-organs and mind. All powers, natural or supernatural and the highest achievement of purification are the clear resultants of penance. Nemicandra says that penances make one's face shine, which is just reflection of refulgence within. The source of Gautama's achievement was penance. Emperors have practised austerities to extend their empires. Some of them have practised hard austerities thirteen times like going without water for three days in succession. Even Indra, the king of gods, bows his head at the feet of an accomplished ascetic. Yogavāšistha rightly says that there is nothing in the world which cannot be obtained through penances.
When the covering of karma is removed from the soul, a hermit achieves what is called purification or other surprising things. As the sun shines when clouds are dispersed because of the blowing of the westerly wind, so also the spiritual energy shines forth when the soul contains no dross. Nemicandra says that no other efforts are necessary for such striking achievements. A spotless character is the source of them all. No divine power or incantation is needed for what looks like a miracle.
In later books, achievements and their different kinds are elaborated. Even one-sensed beings have some latent power but it is man alone who so develops the latent energy that he becomes a cynosure of other
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