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110 :
śramaņa, Vol 59, No. 1/January-March 2008
Śikṣā-vratas (Disciplinary vows)
Along with the five Aņuvratas and three Guņavratas, a householder is required to practice four Śikṣā-vratas, i.e., disciplinary vows that are devised to prepare an individual to follow the discipline prescribed for the ascetics. The four Śikṣāvratas are: 1. Vow of remaining completely in Equanimity for a fixed period of Time (Sāmāyika)
It is an exercise in samāya='sama'+'āya’or attainment of equanimity. In this vow one practices equanimity of mind and tries to shed all types of Kaşāyas (passions) such as anger, pride, deceit etc. It is a state of fusion of the activities of body, mind and speech with Ātman. This vow consists in sitting at one place and one seat for one muhūrta (48 consecutive minutes) in a peaceful mental state, not allowing the passions of attachment and aversion to rise in the mind. The sāmāyika may be performed in one's own house, temple or in an especially designed fasting-hall (poșadha-śālā) in presence of a monk or alone. He should avoid spitting or blowing his nose, but if he cannot help doing so, should first find a bare patch of ground and carry on pratilekhana and pramărjana. Then making obeisance to the Sādhuhe should chant sămāyikasūtra- Karemi bhnate sāmāyiyaṁ.. .. .. Śvetāmbara text generally lay down that sāmāyika should be carried out as often as possible. Usually the three sandhyās- dawns, noon and sunset are indicated as proper for the practice of the rite.
Followings are the aticāras of this vow: (i) Manoduspraạidhāna (Misdirection of mind)-This
aticāra implies the failure to surrender the mind to
meditation caused by greed, deceit, pride and anger. (ii) Vāg-duşpraņidhāna (Misdirection of speech).
Haribhadra2 defines this as the use of indecent, harsh or hurtful language. For Siddhasena Gaņi” this aticāra amounts to confused and hesitant enunciation of the syllables and inability to comprehend the meaning of the text.
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