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ears. Co-operation and co-existence yes but control and coercion no. To house-holders limited indulgence restricted only to married life thereby lifting up the relationship to a different level is enjoined but to saints and initiates a total denial is prescribed. Besides, this vow was not even among the vows prescribed upto and inclusive the period of the 23rd Tirthankara Lord Parshvanath. Perhaps. humans were till then more considerate. so considerate that the total relationship between man and woman did not obligate the formulation of such a separate
V. It is since the period of Lord Mahavira that this relationship required to be bounded by an obligatory observance of a vow. I do not deliberately use the word 'brahmcharya' to mean celebacy i.e. refraining from attachment to woman because the word literally means 'involvement into the conduct leading to the union with Brahma'. Also because the word though a wellmeaning one appears to go more in line with Vedanta as different from Jaina influence among the Taity, common people, adopted by Jaina scholars as it appears to me, out of sheer competition and rivalry. The word "Samacharya' which seems more appropriate in Jaina terminology is nowhere to be found in Jaina literature. I have, however used the word 'Stri-arati' and 'Stri-rati viramana vrata' to convey this limited aspect of Brahmcharya'.
Coming on to the subject of twelve austerities, 'tapas, six are external which can be shown and seen and the remaining six are internal which have to be only experienced by the one who practises them. The 12 reflections i e. 'bhavanas' could as well be included in these internal tapas'-austerities by virtue of their being subjects of meditation more than external accion. Anityata' i.e. nothing that is seen or felt by senses is permanent, all is transcient: Asharanata' j.e. every soul as embodied is helpless and that nobody can help him, he alone has to help himself: Ekatva' i.e. the embodied soul is unique, not like any one else: •Anyatva' i e. all embodied souls are different and separate from one another: 'Ashuchitva' i.e. all embodied souls
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