Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 446

Sec. V] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
421 who is ascending the Upašama-Śrenī or Ksapaka-Śreni, the ladder leading to the annihilation of Karma). The YathākhyātaSamyata is classified into two categories, viz. Chadmastha (a monk endowed with finite knowledge) and Kevali (a selfcontrolled monk having infinite omniscience).
There exists an inter-relation among the five classes of Sariy atas and the five divisions of the Nirgranthas on the basis of self-control and the stages of spiritual development. For example, it is explained that a Sāmāyika-Sariyata may be a Pulaka or a Bakuša upto a Kasāya-Kuśila; but not a Nirgrantha nor a Snātaka and so on.
FIFTH SECTION Āgara-Dharma or Śrāvaka-Dharma (Religion of Lay
Worshipper or Householder) The BNS throws a welcome light upon Agāra-Dharma or Srāvaku-Dharme? which is quite distinct from that of Anāgāra Dharma (monasticism). It was realized by Lord Mahāvīra and his disciples that the uniformn religious vows and rules of conduct should not be prescribed for the monks and householders, for they would defeat the mission of the Nirgrantha-Dharma and would be fruitless. They would help neither the monks nor the laymen, so separate vows and rules of conduct were set forth for the householders by considering all the conditions of their life, as it is known from the fact of some relaxations made in the observance of the religious vows and rules of conduct to which they were required to conform.
This Srävaka-Dharma is the most essential counterpart of monasticism of the Nirgrantha-Dharmu. It is the twelve-fold Law of laymen (duvālasavihan savagadhamman) consisting of five lesser vows (pancānuvatiyan) and seven disciplinary vows
1 BKS, 25, 7, 788.
: 16, 18, 10, 648.
316.