Book Title: Jaina Gazette 1928
Author(s): Ajitprasad, C S Mallinath
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office

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Page 434
________________ THE DAILY LIFE OF JAINA SAINTS 261 41. The lipla dosa occurs when it is besmeared with such things as oil, sugar, and the like. 42. The parilyajana dosa is caused when the place is too big for the use of a saint. The description of the remaining faults in connection with the use of a bastika will be found adequately described among the forty-six faults pertaining to food. The saint must not seek but should avoid the company of the opposite sex, as far as possible, since that is prone to excite sexual lust in his heart. Even when a female saint has to speak to him, he will allow her lo do so from a distance of five cubits if he be an acharya (the head or leader of saints), of six cubits, if an upadhyaya (the learned preacher of the saints), and of seven cubits, if an ordinary saint. The conversation will, in all cases, be confined to the purposes of the dharma (religion) or sangha (those who practise the dharma) or of the community of saints. The saint's rules forbid his saluting any one engaged in worldly activities. He salutes only his own leaders and the Tirthamkaras and Siddhas (the Liberated Ones). The proper mode of saluting a saint is to say "na mostu" which means "I bow to thee." The saint's acknowledgment varies with the individual. In acknowledging the salutation of an advanced house holder such as a brahmachari or one on the eleventh pratima (step in the householder's path of progress) he will say "karmakshayostu" (may thine karmas be destroyed); to an ordinary house holder following the right path, he will say "dharma oirdhirastu" may there be increase of thy merit) or "subhamastu" (may thy life be auspicious) or " santirastu" (may thou obtain peace), but to a low-caste man devoid of dharma (Right Faith) he will say " papamkshayostu "(may thy sins, i.e. demerit, be destroyed). "Dharma labha" (may you obtain dharma) is the formula of acknowledgment for men of the higher castes under similar circumstances. When a saint salutes his acharya, he simply says "O Master ! I salute thee" (namostu). The newly-ordained sadhu should attach himself to a sangha, (company) of saints, as far as possible. The reason for this is Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com

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