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Gyan Samvad: For Youth By Youth
Mrs. Kavita Ajay Mehta
અવારનવાર અંગ્રેજી ભાષાની ડિમાન્ડ આવે છે. ધર્મ-તત્વ વિશે, તમારા પ્રશ્નો અંગ્રેજીમાં પૂછો, અને ઉત્તર આપશે વિદ્વાન શ્રીમતી કવિતાબેન મહેતા – તંત્રી Q.1 What is a Kalyanak?
Ans: There are five important events in the life of a Tirthankar. They are celebrated as auspicious days and there are various prayers, plays and fasting on these days. They are:
1) Chyava Kalyanvak - The day that the Tirthankars soul enters the womb of His mother is called Chyava Kalyanak. The mother experiences fourteen auspicious dreams and it is believed that Indra and other Devas come to worship her and the child and explain the dreams.
2) Janma Kalyanak - This is the day the Tirthankar is born. There are a lot of festivities, Lord Indra comes to worship and takes the child to mount Meru and gives him a bath.
3) Deeksha Kalyanak - The day of the Tirthankars renunciation. The Tirthankar abandons his family and all his material belongings. All his belongings are distributed to the citizens and the needy.
4) Kevalya Kalyanak - When the Tirthankar achieves absolute enlightenment and omniscience, He achieved Kevalya Gyan. He sheds his four Ghati karma. Indra and other Devas construct a Samavasarana where all living beings gather to hear the Tirthankars first ser
mon.
5) Nirvana Kalyanak - When the Tirthankar is freed from the body and his four Aghati karmas, He achieved. Nirvana or Liberation. He then resides in Perpetual peace and bliss as a Siddha
Q.2: Where should I make a donation? What according to Jainism is the best place to donate? Ans: Donation or charity can be done to anyone but one should be cautious that the money will not be misused or used for purposes which are against Jain tenets.
Jain texts have given a list of the seven areas of merit. They are -
1) Jina-Bimba - making statues or images of Tirthankars and other Devs
2) Jina - Bhavana - making temples or places to stay for the Jain monks and nuns
6) Providing assistance to the male members of the lay community
7) Giving assistance to women members of the lay community
Besides this they are encouraged to build schools, colleges, hospitals and other such institutions which would also benefit those other than Jains.
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Q.3 I have some health problems and therefore cannot do Tapasya. How can I do Nirjara and shed away my past karmas?
Ans: Nirjara (shedding of karmas) and Tapasya (austerities) are very important and it is unfortunate that either due to health reasons or otherwise one cannot perform them. But not eating food or fasting is not the only ways of performing Tapasya.
There are twelve types of Tapasya mentioned in the Agams. Six are internal and six are external.
TAPASYA OR AUSTERITIES
External Austerities -
1) Anshana - fasting or staying hungry for long or short period of time
2) Unodari- To stop eating just before one is full, keep the stomach slightly empty. Although this seems simple, it is very difficult
3) Vritti Sankshep - To keep a limit on the quantity of food or food items that one partakes of
4) Rasa-Parityaga - Restriction on tasty food
5) Vivikta Sayyasan - Staying in a quiet place in solitude for a stipulated time and doing meditation
6) Kayaklesh Training the body to tolerate difficult situations in life with equanimity and patience
Internal Austerities
1) Prayashchitt - Atonement for any vows broken 2) Vinaya - Respect for knowledge
3) Vaiyavrattya Rendering service to the deserving
4) Svadhyay Study to acquire knowledge
5) Vyutsarga Discarding the ego
6) Dhyana Meditation
So we see that fasting or remaining hungry are not the only ways to do Tapasya. Any of these can be done
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3) Jina Agama - Getting Jain Agams (books) - One can eat a few bites less than required, avoid printed, translated and distributed
4) Giving alms to the monks 5) Giving alms to the nuns
favourite foods, eat limited number of items per meal, eat after sunrise, eat before sunset, avoid eating certain foods for a limited time, eat only twice a day and માર્ચ - ૨૦૧૯
પ્રબુદ્ધજીવન
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