Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 566

THE RELIGIOUS' PRAYAŚCITTAS : 105
towards the East or the carantī. The culprit bows, makes the anjali, squats in the utkutuka posture, and confesses, stating whether he sinned purposely or though he was paying due attention to the Rule.81
This ritual reminds one of the Hindu, and still more of the Buddhist ceremonial.82
The commentaries are very particular about the order of precedence. The usual hierarchy between the two men can still be manifested. But the superiority of the confessor over the man who confesses should be clear: this is only too natural, as the confessor, so to speak, symbolizes the Rule. Therefore, he must take his place on a higher seat. As for the man who confesses, he should, theoretically, keep the utkutuka position, which is the pure one, though others can bə tolerated: yady utkuțukaḥ sann alocayati, tataḥ śuddhiḥ (VavȚ III 42 a 10).
Transgressions of etiquette are minutely studied by VavBhȚ:83 they must be expiated along with the main offences.
THE SECOND ATONEMENT (padikkamana, pratikramana). The spirit of this atonement is expressed in the formula tassa miccha me dukkadam,“ my fault is due to error" 84 It means that the believer will turn away from bad conduct, and resume a salutary behaviour : pratīpaṁ kramanam yad aha: “sva-sthānád yat param sthanam pramadasya vasād gataḥ, tatraiva kramanam bhūyaḥ pratikramanam ucyate".85 It is sometimes considered as the fourth of the ten daily duties (āvassaya).86 On the other hand, it seems that the padikkamana is strongly linked with the aloyană (supra); and it is noteworthy that there is no mention of an independent padikkamana ceremony neither in K (4, 25) nor in Vav (1, 35).
The padikkamana-suttas consider either all the various faults taken together, or each category of fault individually.87 As far as time is concerned, padikkamana is said to be fivefold, for it takes place at five fixed moments or dates : in the evening to regret the day's faults, in the
81 VavBh 1, 133 = NisBh 6 390. 82 Cf. Kane, History of Dharmaśāstra 4, 85; Majjhima Nikaya 2, 248, 23
ff.; and Vin 1, 125 f. 83 VavBh 1, 400 - 410, a masterpiece of scholastic work! 84 Cf. VavŢ III 126 b 3: pratikrāmen mithya duşkrtam tad-vişaye
dadyat. 85 Pravacana 39 a. 86 Cf. Doctrine 151. 87 Abhidhāna 5, 271 ff.