________________
40. A Jain female This female ascetic called 'Sadhvi'at present was known as Arya in scriptures in ancient time in common parlance. ascetic
She is called 'Guruni' or 'Gayani' and 'Araja' from the word 'Arya'.
arya:
41. The male
Jain householder:
kept on the side. When the ascetics move out, they keep in their left hand a stick suggesting their ascetism. The top of this stick has got a suggestive figure on it. The Jain ascetic being Nir-Granth (without attachment) don't wear stitched dress. They wear a lower garment, a garment on the chest and the third large upper garment to cover it. Over it they wear a thin shawl suggestive of their ascetism. The first three garments are respectively called Chol-Patto (Chulla Pattaka), Pangani (Pravarana) and Kapado-Pachhedi. When they are stationed at a certain place, they wear only the upper garment and the lower garment. When there is a special occasion like visiting a temple or going for a discourse they wear the third garment called Kapado. The cloth pieces are white but for certain reasons some ascetics wear a yellow cloth. These pieces of the cloths are called Upakaranas (instruments of spiritual sadhana). The Jain community which is four fold consists of (1) male ascetics, (2) female ascetics (3) the male householders and (4) the female householders. The first two follow renunciation while the last two follow the worldly way of life. Jain ascetics leave their homes and worldly way of life, give up the sins of violence, falsehood etc. keep way from wealth and women, walk always on foot and are engaged in the spiritual practice for themselves and for others.
44. Darshan:
The dress prescribed for a Jain female ascetic is both suggestive and purposeful. This dress has been prescribed for protecting the body, maintaining self control and social decorum.
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The costume is quite clear in the illustration. Like the male ascetic the female ascetic also keeps the cleaning apparatus, the stick and a shawl on the left shoulder. She holds in her hand 'Tarapani' a wooden utensil for accepting food. Like the male ascetic she also wears four pieces of cloth. She wears three upper garments instead of two.
42. The
female Jain householder: Her definition is the same as for symbol 41.
43. Knowledge: Knowledge is of two types (1) illusory and (2) real.
A male Jain householder called 'Shravaka' is one who follows JINA-TIRTHANKARA, conqueror of attachment and hatred. With devotion he obeys the commandments of Jina and strives to conquer the internal enemies in the form of likes and dislikes. The word "Shravaka" means one who has unchangeable faith in Bhagawan Tirthankara. preceptor and religion, who listens to the religious instructions originally given by a Tirthankara, leading life with due limitation suitable to a particular region and time, maintains himself like a law-abiding and honest citizen. Moreover he is one who follows non-violence, truth, non-stealing continence and non-hoarding, the five fundamental vows as far as possible. A person having these qualities is called a Shravaka.
Here the word knowledge refers to real knowledge. That knowledge is looked upon as respectable, worthy or worship and worth obeisance, which gives true understanding, true light, pierces the darkness of ignorance, creates detachment from the worldly way of life, reduces the cycle of incarnations in the world and which leads to spiritual bliss. Again knowledge is the connotation of the soul. When the soul is bound by Maya (illusory concepts), its connotation changes and is enveloped with ignorance. Ordinarily, knowledge about the world is included in illusory world. It leads the soul astray by making it more and more materialistic. The material world expands for it and this leads to its spiritual degradation but real discretionary knowledge, however little makes the soul realize its true form, makes it conscious of what is available or acceptable, leads the individual's life on the correct path by showing the good path of real bliss and peace, leads it stage by stage to liberation through spiritual progress. Such knowledge should be highly honoured and therefore every soul should strive to gain knowledge. In order to maintain such noble ideas about such knowledge the shyetambar sect of Jains celebrates. Gnana Panchami or shruta-panchami all over India on the fifth of the bright half of kartika month of the Indian Calendar. On this day religious books of true knowledge are installed worshipped and prayers are offered to them. The Jains who belong to the Digambar sect celebrate "shruta panchami' on the fifth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha, the eighth month in the Indian calendar. In this illustration the stand for keeping a book, while reading, books and other means of knowledge are shown. All should use such means and contribute to their protection and propagation. True worship of knowledge lies in acquiring fresh knowledge everyday in regular study and observation. So all should strive for knowledge. Jains have divided knowledge into five parts including understanding (Mati). The adore shruta Jnana (i.e. knowledge by listening) as enlightening the one's soul and others. The remaining four types of knowledge are called silent as they are self enlightening for the soul.
The word 'Darshan has many meanings but here it means 'faith'. This faith is also of two types-unreal and real. Here it should mean true faith. Faith is the foundation of the building of spiritual progress. So one who has true faith can have true knowledge.
Among those means that create faith Jin-icon-the Jin temple is a very powerful medium. So as a symbol of faith a small illustration of a Jin temple is shown here.
45. Character: Character can be either good or bad. Here we refer to the good and true character. Character has been defined as one which restricts all sins and leads to self-control. For this the code of ethics consists of (1) non-violence. (2) truth. (3) non-stealing, (4) continence and (5) non-hoarding. These are five fundamental vows. Following these vows without the sense of spirit of breaking them, with ever alertness it is called character. As it otherwise means abstinence
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