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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
The poor, orphans, oppressed, down-trodden, grief-stricken, and deef-dumb-blind-maim etc., who takes food by begging is called beggary or Dina-vṛtti bhikṣā.
Strong, sturdy, healthy persons capable to earn their livelihood, when beg to get food, it is called paurṣaghni bhikṣā. This type of beggary depresses the manhood and vigour of a person, so it is regarded the meanest type of beggary.
The non-violent and content saints take food according to their limitations from a house-holder only for giving dose (diet) to the belly is called sarva-sampatkarī bhikṣā. By it both the taker and giver gets auspicious gatis.
In the agamas, there is the description of many kinds of bhikṣācari.1
Jaina monk accepts the alms only when it is completely faultless and without any kind of shortcomings."
RASA-PARITYAGA
Rasa literally means-enjoyment increasing ingredients. The ingredients, which inspires attachment towards any thing, like-food etc., is called rasa. There are six kinds of rasas regarding food. These are—(1) Kațu (sour) (2) Madhura (sweet) (3) Amla (acidic) (4) Tikta (bitter) (5) Kāṣāya (astringent) and (6) Lavana (saltish).
By these rasas the food becomes tasty and delicious; and being so it is eaten more than hunger. So the rasas are also called inspiring elements."
Vigayas, like-Milk, curd, ghee, etc., are also called rasas.
Why these milk etc., are called vigaya? This question is answered by Acārya Siddhasena. He says-by eating or taking these the perversion (vikāra) arouses in the tendency of atman. So
1. (a) Uttaradhyayana 30/25 (b) Sthänänga, 6
2. (a) Uttaradhyayana 24/11-12 (b) Pindaniryukti 92-93.
3. Uttaradhyayana 32/10.
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