Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 78

Jaina Acara : Siddhanta aura Swarūpa
(4) Some others do what is strictly necessary and are never involved in worldly affairs. They practise penances and observe other salutary rules. Their life is regulated with the result that they cannot go astray. Hence their life is characterized by piety and righteousness.
Further, there are householders who have affectionate feelings for ascetics. They are like parents solicitous of their spiritual welfare.
There are others who are both affectionate and sharp. They have been likened to brothers. In religious practices there is no leniency but where there is the question of livelihood, some laxity is permissible.
There are some who have qualified liking for ascetics. They are fair-weather friends. There are still others who are jealous of asctics. They observe only deficiencies in them. They are like a co-wife because they never think good of hermits
There are some immaculate like a looking glass. They are the right type receiving a perfectly pure reflection. There are others who are never steady and always vacillating. They are like a flag which when hoisted changes its position and is also otherwise swept by winds. Some others are dry like a pillar. They have no elasticity. Their stand is rigid. Some others do not take kindly to ascetics' advice. When their misdeeds are pointed out even with the sole intention of reforming them they retaliate even to the extent of calling names. They are like a thorn which tears a cloth and also scratches the hand of the person who tries to extract it.
In 'Sthānāriga' five small vows have been mentioned 1. abstention from taking the life of others 2. abstention from telling a lie 3. not to take things which have not been given expressly 4. satisfaction with one's own wife 5. limitation of desires.
'Samvāyānga' too is a sort of dictionary. Specital vows for the laity have just been mentioned. They are 1. faithful, 2. who take firm vows, 3. regular and punctual in daily meditation to attain equanimity, 4. who are engaged in fasts on auspicious days, 5. celibacy during day time and limitation of sexual intercourse at night, 6. celibacy during day and night, avoidance of bath and food at night as also renunciation of putting on the hem of a lower garment which, after being taken round the body, is gathered up behind and tucked into the waist-band as also of crown, 7. abstention from taking anything with life, 8. renunciation of sinful activities, 9. renunciation of ordering, sending or despatching, 10. renunciation of food meant for the person concerned, 11. being like an ascetic. In 'Bhagavatisūtra', the importance of a householder's life has been eulogised specially with reference to residents of Tungia. Their living was being emulate, so very generous and of a helping nature were they. One Maddaka of Rajgrha was an expert in Jainology. Kalodai, Sailodai, Sevaladai, Udaka, Namodake, Annāpata, Saival, Sankhapāi, Suhiasti and Gathāpati belonged to