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Jaina Acara: Siddhanta aura Svarupa
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world is three and a half 'arabas' (an araba is a thousand million). Should these cells live, three and a half 'araba' children may be born. But ordinarily a couple does not have more than half a dozen children. Thus cohabitation causes imponderable violence.
In the Mahabharata war eighteen 'Aksohani' (one Aksohani is a large army consisting of 21870 chariots, as many elephants, 65610 horses and 109350 foot soldiers) were killed and lacs lost their lives in the Second World War. But wanton copulation kills crores of beings. Celibacy is much more valuable than all the four Vedas.
Gods, demons, Gandharvas, Yaksas, Kinnaras and the like salute one who is perfectly chaste and holy. The Bauddhas also favour good conduct which is very much dependent on celibacy. Dhammapada says: "The aromatic smell of aloe and sandalwood is good so long as it lasts but the smell of good conduct spreads all round and even penetrates the divine world. Vasudevahindi says that no other smell can compare with that of good conduct since it wafts in all direction. There is no stair like celibacy to reach heaven.
Asvaghosa in Buddhacarita' relates how the god of love tried to entice Buddha. He commissioned celestial damsels to create an amorous atmosphere and take Buddha in their arms. They danced, cast side-glances and the like. But he remained unmoved like Meru and the god's endeavour proved futile. The Buddhists have given their own meanings of Brahmacarya. Dighanikaya says that it means (1) the path of piety as propounded by the Buddha (2) to act up to Buddhism leading to emancipation (3) abstention from copulation.
The Buddha once left Nyagrodhagrama and was on his way to Vaisali when Gautami prayed that women also be permitted to renounce the world and take to asceticism. The Buddha kept silent even when prayed thrice. She got her hair cut, wore clothes dyed in a reddish colour and accompanied with many other women reached Kutagarasala where the Buddha was staying. At the instance of Ananda he permitted them but could not help saying that where there are nuns, celibacy may not be preserved.
Complete celibacy means that a monk has nothing to do with gods, men and animals so far as copulation is concerned. He forsakes cohabitation of all kinds. does not goad others to do it nor does he support others' debauchery.
Akalanka talks of masturbation and the like. He who uses hands, feet etc. for intercourse is no less guilty as involved with other persons. Even though one, he becomes two in the supposed act of copulation. He condemns homosexuality too.
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