________________
106
RELIGION & CULTURE OF THE JAINS
qualities (aşta-mūla-guna) and abstinence from the seven evil pursuits of sinful indulgences (sapta-vyasana), described earlier. The second is the vrata-pratimā, in which stage he undertakes to observe all the twelve vows without any transgressions or infringements.
The third is the sāmāyika-pratimā, in which he practises, regularly three times a day (morning, midday and evening), for at least about three quarters of an hour each time, contemplation and meditation of spiritual values.
In the proşadhopavāsa-pratimā, he regularly keeps a fortyeight hours faultless fast on the eighth and fourteenth days of each fortnight, devoting the time thus spared to religious and pious work.
In the fifth, sacitta-tyāga, stage he gives up for ever using animate or unboiled water and eating fresh, raw or uncooked fruits and vegetables.
In the sixth stage (rātri-bhukta-tyāga) he gives up for ever eating and drinking anything after sunset, as also providing food and drink to anybody else during the night. In the seventh or brahmacarya-pratimā the person gives up sexual gratification even with own wife or husband, and leads a life for continence. The eighth is the ārambha-tyāga stage when the aspirant renounces all economic activities, earning money, or following any profession or vocation; he devotes all his time in taking care of his spiritual welfare and serving humanity. In the ninth pratimā (parigraha-tyāga) the seeker distributes all his movable and immovable property among his heirs, or gives it away in charity, keeping for himself a few clothes, a few utensils and other bare necessaries.
