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Veyāvacceṇam Titthayaranãmagottam kammam nibandhai |
Uttaradhyayana sūtra, 29.43.
Through selfless service one bonds the Tirthankara nāma and gotra karma.
Lokadvayaviśuddhyartha, bhāvaśuddhyarthamañjasā | Vidyavinayavṛddhyartha vṛddhasevaiva śasyate ||
- Jñānārṇava, 15.1.
The service to the old has been praised for the achievement of purity of both the worlds, for the purity of volition and for the increase in learning and humility.
Tattvärtha sūtra, which is regarded as a sacred book by both - the Svetambara and the Digamabara traditions of the Jainas, has mentioned Vaiyavṛtya or selfless and respectful service as one of the forms of internal penance. Penance results in the destruction of earlier bonded karma. Other scriptures like Vyavahāra sutra, Sthānānga sūtra, etc., also clearly say that one who serves so achieves great destruction of and separation from karma, limits his worldly transmigration to a great extent and proceeds towards liberation. The Uttaradhyayana sūtra has depicted it as a means of earning the merit to become a Tirthankara.
Generally, people think that it is only the service rendered to the monks that comes under the category of Vaiyavṛtya. However, it is not so. Mentions are available to the effect that service rendered to the diseased, students and the old people also constitute vaiyāvṛtya.
The field of service to be rendered by the ordained monks and nuns may be limited, but the field of service for the householders is limitless. Service rendered to the monks and nuns is a very limited interpretation of this term. The service to be rendered by the householders is also included in this term. This may not have been mentioned directly but he can always serve the old, diseased, the students and those in trouble. The meaning given to it in the Dhavala commentary that 'the service and cooperation extended to those in trouble is Vaiyāvṛtya' is very important in this regard.
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