Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

Page 147

140
SHASHI BHUSHAN PRASAD SINHA
five vows in relaxed forms are known as lesser or partial vows and they are meant for householders whereas the above in their rigid form are meant for ascetics and they are therefore full vows. This is quite realistic to make such distinction and relaxation because the entire world cannot be expected to be inhabited by monks and ascetics only. Besides this realistic note, as pointed out earlier, their sense of detail in the context is also worthpraising. We see that the Jaina teacher recommends five meditations or bhāvanā' for each of these vows'. 'Vāgguptı' (preservation of speech), 'Manoguptı' (preservation of mind). "Irya' (Care in walking), 'Ādāna-nıksepana-samiti (Care in lifting and laying down things) and 'Alokitapāna-bhojan' (seeing to one's food and drink thoroughly) are meditations for the vow against injury. Secondly, we see that Krodha-pratyākhyāna (giving up anger), Lobha-pratyākhyāna (giving up greed), Bhirutva-pratyākhyāna (giving up cowardice or fear), Hāsya-pratyākhyāna (giving up frivolity) and Anuvīchi-bhāśana (speaking in accordance with scriptural injunctions) have been prescribed as meditations against falsehood. Thirdly, Umasvati mentions Sunyāgāra' (residence in a solitary place), "Vimochita vāsa' (residence in a deserted place), 'Paroparodhākarana (residence in a place where one is not likely to be prohibited by others or where one cannot prohibit others), 'Bharks ya-suddhi' (purity of alms according to scriptures) and 'Sadharmāvisamvāda' (not disputing with one's co-religionist as to mine and thine) as meditations against theft. Similarly, he mentions 'strīrāga-kathaśravanatyāga (renouncing of reading or hearing stories exciting attachment for Women), 'Tanmanoharānge-nirākṣaṇa-tyāga (leaving of seeing their beautiful bodies), “Purvaratānusmarana-tyāga' (Giving up remembering past enjoyment of women), 'Vrsyeștarasa-tyāga (Renouncing intoxicating drinks etc.) and 'Svasarīrasaņskāratyāga (renouncing of beautifying one's body) as meditations against unchastity. Lastly, giving up or self-denial of love and hatred in the pleasing and displeasing worldly objects of the five senses are five meditations against attachment.
1.
Ibid, pp. 114-15.