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70 : Śramaņa, Vol 61, No. 4 October-December-10
five-fold path of vigilance are the constituents of practical conduct.
The five vows are: 1. Truth (Satya) 2. Non-violence (Ahimsā) 3. Non-stealing (Asteya) 4. Non-possession (Aparigraha) 5. Celibacy (Brahmacarya)
The first four vows were prescribed by Pārsvanātha and were called cāturyāma. Mahāvīra strictly emphasised it and divided the last into tow and added celibacy as fifth.
Buddha prescribed first four and included the vow of abstinence from intoxicants as the fifth vow and called it Pancasila.
Chāndogyopanişad described the five qualities of a Goodman and they are :
1. Penance (Tapas) 2. Liberality (Dāna) 3. Simple dealing (Arjavam) 4. Non-violence (Ahiṁsā) 5. Truthfulness (Satya-vacana)
The Jaina view of non-possession is more comprehensive than abstinence. The first four vows were unanimously accepted by Brāhmanism, Buddhism and Jainism.
The fifth vow was modified by each religion according to its own requirement and suitability. In the original vow of liberality was replaced by the ascetic vow of non-possession.
Originally the life of a householder in the Brāhmanism was guided by such social virtues as sacrifice, study and liberality rather than by ascetic virtues. In the influence of Jainism Brahmanical tradition changed when Patañjali replaced liberality by nonpossession.
