Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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( xxii ) are based on either the Vedas or the Srutis. Those based on Srutiseal with (1) the householder's conduct and the sixteen rites, starting from birth to dealth. (2) the dharmasutras deal with religious rules, the right of the king and the subjects as also duties, caste system, stages of life and the like. They are the bases for Srutis of which the two most prominent are Manu and Yāgnavalkya smrtis. They are smrtis since they were remembered from generation to generation. The Veda was heard by disciples from their preceptors. The Vedas are, therefore, 'Srutis' The great poet Kālidāsa in his *Raghuvansa' says that smrtis follow the footsteps of the vedas. That accounts for their authenticity. Manu has explicated the duties of the four castes, emphasizing that there is nothing greater and nobler than good conduct. 'Gautamadharmasūtra' is the oldest compositon, but the most authoritative is Manusmrti on which is based the Hindu Law. It is not only a religious treatise but also one that deals with duties that must be observed by all.
Smris were written in different periods. The first period is 600-100 B.C. The second period is 100-800 A.D. and the third from 900 to 1800 A.D. They are the creations of the Sunga reign. Yāgnavalkya came long after Manu. Manusmrti must have been written sometime between 2nd century B.C. and 2nd century A.D. The detailed exposition of justice is contained not in Manu but in Yagnavalkya. The two smrtis have inany things in common. But there are differences too. Manu says that a Brahmāna may marry a Sudra girl which Yāgnavalka forbids. Manu says nothing on what is to be given to an issueless widow, but the other one prescribes it. Manu forbids gambling but Yagnavalkya regards it as a source of revenue for the government.
In Manu the constituents of Dharma are the Vedas, the tradition of scholars conversant with them, the conduct of righteous people and self-satisfaction. According to Yagnavalkya they are the Vedas, Smrtis, good conduct, the conduct of the cultured class, what appeals to self and auspicious will. Yagnavalkya smrti was composed in Mithilā, which had been a prominent cultural centre of Magadha, equally sacred to Jainas. There is no topic of religion or conduct that has not been treated herein. It contains two thousand and seven hundred verses, much less contents of Manu. It is a nice commentary on the Vedas, Vedanga, Yoga, spirituality, ways of punishing offenders, piety and conduct, All this is contained in just three chapters viz. conduct,dealings and expiation. This reminds us of the Jaina Acārya Bhadrabahu's 'Chedasutra'. This also had four chapters viz. conduct, dasą, Kalpasutra and Vyavhārasutta.
Bauddha conduct-The Vedic conduct is mostly concerned with householders. Not much has been written on the last two stages of life, viz. retreat into the forest and complete renunciation of the world. The