Jainism by Vividus

Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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for the entire living creation of the world. His structure of life rests on five pillars which are called "Anuvrata" (small vows) as distinct in the degree of following from "Mahaarata" (big vows) for the saints or monks who have discarded their homes, wives, children, parents, relatives, land, wealth and all accumulated possessions. They have no roof of their own over their heads except the star-bespangled canopy of the heavens.
These five vows are ; (1) observance of non-violence, i.e., "Ahimsa," (2) observance of truth, i.e. "Satya," (3) observance of non-stealing, i.e. “Asteya," (4) observance of faithfulness to wife in family life : for saints, it is observance of total celebacy in thought, word and act i.e. "Brahmacharya" and (5) observance of only essential accumulation of possessions for self-requirement ; for saints, it is observance of no accumulation of possessions ; i,e. “Aprigraha," In these obsarvances, a degree of laxity is available to householders commensurate with their sincerity and honesty in following them. If out of accident or inadvertence, occupation, or the necessity of self-protection, the required degree of observance is not maintained, the inflow of karmic atoms is minimal and loose which could be purged off with little effort, but if the nonobservance of the vows is intentional, there is no escape without the full effect of the karma.
The purpose of these small or big vows becomes more pronounced in the next three vows called "Guna vratas," which improve, as it were, upon their quality. Of these three, one is "Dig vrata" (a vow to limit oneself for travelling in all the ten directions beyond which one shall not travel during one's lifetime); the other is "Desha vrata," prescribing further limits of travel for a specified period of time, and the last is "Anartha Danda vrata," setting limits on one's possessions, accumulations, professions, occupations etc., for a particular period of time; eschewing all evil thoughts, carelessness about keeping and making use of weapons, sharp instruments etc.,
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