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Concept of śīla in Jainism
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(miner scale vows), (B) three Guņa-vratas (multiplicative vows), and (C) four Siksā-vratas, (disciplinary vows). Upāsakadasā together with these five supplementary, enumerates Sallekhanā as nonobligatory by its nature. The Aņuvratas are of course closely parallel to the Mahāvratas of an ascetic; and it is therefore, not surprising that some writers have imitated the Daśavaikālika-sūtra which counts a sixch vrata-that of a rātri-bhojana tyāga under Aņuvratas. This sixth Aņuvrata is noted by Cāmundarāya."
These vows form the central part of the ethical code and by their observance laymen can maintain constant progress in their spiritual career aimed at the attainment of final liberation. Aņu-vratas (Minor scale vows) The main five vows for the Jaina Lay-devotees are as follows: (i) Ahimsā or Sthūla-prāņātipāta-viramaņa- abstention
from violence or injury to living beings (ii) Satya or Sthūla-mşşāvāda-viramaņa- abstention from
false speech (iii) Asteya or Sthūla-adattādāna-viramaņa- abstention
from theft (iv) Brahmacarya or Sthūla-maithuna-viramaņa
abstention from sexuality or unchastity, and (v) Aparigraha or Parigraha-parimāņa- abstention from
greed for worldly possessions or limiting one's
possessions As regards the extent and intensity in the observance of these vratas it is stated that if these vows are strictly observed they are known as Mahāvratas, i.e., great vows and naturally these are meant for the ascetics. Laymen, however, cannot observe vows so strictly and therefore, they are allowed to practice them so far as their conditions permit. Therefore, the same vratas or vows when partially observed are termed as Aņuvratas (small or miner scale vows) and when completely observed are called Mahāvratas (great vows). Since the destination of both the monk as well as the householder is the
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