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CHAPTER-V
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should read such religious texts which he can understand. There is no benefit in keeping the name by tradition only.
And Pratikramana consists in repenting and not repeating the fault committed in the past, but simply by expressing "5" Michchhaami Dukkadam, i.e., ("May my wrong deeds be condoned") the vicious deeds are not nullified; only on evolution of (pure) thoughts capable of making the vicious deeds false, the vicious deeds are falsified; hence, reciting alone is not efficacious.
Further, in the text of Pratikramana there is a statement that "Whatever inappropriateness in the observance of twelve vows, etc. might have been caused be nullified". But without taking the vow, how is it possible to do Pratikramana of them? One who has not observed the fast if he tends to nullify the faults which are deemed to have occurred in the observance of fast then this is mere impossibility. Hence, how can such reading of text be meaningful?
Further, in Proshadha* too, they do not observe properly the vow taken as they do in Samayika. Therefore, the aforesaid fault arises. Moreover, Proshadha is the name of Parva, i.e., an auspicious day but he indulges in sinful activities even on the day of Parva for many hours and afterwards he takes the vow of Proshadha. There is no harm in keeping engaged in pious activities for as long a time as is possible. But taking the vow of Proshadha and not following it properly is not justifiable. The Proshadha consists in keeping oneself totally devoid of injury throughout the Parva day. If observing the fast even for a few hours could be called Proshadha then call Samayika also as Proshadha, otherwise show scriptural proof that so much is the time of the small Proshadha. In all these there appears to be the purpose of keeping people confused under the pretention of real great Proshadha.
And the text of taking vow (Akhadi) is read by someone and some other takes the vow. But in the text of vow the statement is- "I forsake", therefore, the one who forsakes, he only should read the text. If he is unable to read the text, then he should speak in the spoken language itself but this custom is for the sake of following the tradition.
* Proshadha (a) = 48 hrs. fast, i.e., the fast which starts from mid-day of 1st day and ends on mid-day of 3rd day.
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