Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

Page 17

XV
Jain laymen, whose careers are narrated in the Uvásaga Dasáo, are represented as men of enormous wealth. Perhaps this is intended to increase the merit of their self-denial. There can be no doubt that, at the present day, many Jain laymen owe their influence to their riches. Even laymen are recommended to starve themselves to death, though this mode of leaving the world is not absolutely necessary in their case.t They are, of course, forbidden to indulge in flesh and spirituous drinks, and in other kinds of food, such as honey and fresh butter, which involve injury to animal life. Agriculture is forbidden, as an injury to the earth-body.' Even the ordering another man to plough a field is stigmatized as a sin.§ The result of all this teaching has been, as Hofrath Bühler points out, to make Jain laymen serious, well-conducted and humane men, ready to endure great sacrifices for their religion, and especially for the welfare of animals. Advantage has been taken of this under British rule to enlist their sympathies in favour of veterinary science.
C
Hofrath Bühler considers it as a concession to the lay mind, that the originally atheistic Jain system is fitted out with an elaborate cult. It will be evident, from a perusal of the 'Kathakoça,' that the Jains do actually worship gods many and lords many. The Jinas are adored with flowers and incense and candles; hymns of praise are sung in their honour, and pilgrimages are made to places hallowed by their memories. The reception of lay disciples brought about, according to the same authority, another effect. The necessity of instructing the laity turned the wandering
For this Dasáo,’ p. 54.
C
*This is the text-book containing precepts for Jaina laymen. It has been edited and translated by Dr. Hoernle in the 'Bibliotheca Indica. The Ácháránga Sútra," which contains the corresponding precepts for monks, has been edited by Professor Jacobi in the series of the Pali Text Society, and translated by him in vol. xxii. of the 'Sacred Books of the East.'
last mortal emaceration,' see Hoernle's Uvásaga
Bühler's Vortrag, p. 14.
§ In Hoernle's Uvásaga Dasáo,' pp. 27-30, will be found a list of forbidden foods and occupations.
One such instance is known to the writer.
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