Mahavira His Life and Teachings

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Luzac and Co UK

Page 20

LIFE
13
The Nirgranthas are represented as a class of recluses (samaņajātikā) who used to drink hot water, rejecting cold water. There is no sound reason to suggest with the author of the Milinda that they did not drink cold water because they believed there were souls' in it? They are credited with the scrupulous practice of a fourfold self-restraint' (cātuyāma-samvara), according to which they used to live 'restrained as regards all water', 'restrained as regards all evil', 'washing away all evil', and 'suffused with the sense of evil held at bay'. It is for this reason that they were called gatatta (whose heart has gone to the summit, to the attainment of their aim), and yatatta (whose heart is subdued). Cātuyāmasamvara was, no doubt, a phraseology of the religion of Pārśva But, as presented in Buddhist literature, it acquired altogether a new connotation with the followers of Mahāvīra. Some are inclined to think that by the fourfold self-restraint' the Buddhist author has simply expressed the four characteristics of a Jaina recluse (1) that he should be free from passion
1 Majjhima, I, P 376 Nigantho s ūtodaka-patikkhetto unhodaka-patissevi
2 The Questions of King Mılında, SBE, XXXV, PP 85-91