Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 199

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Traverses on less trodden path...
bed, seat, perfume and so on. Danavrata or otithisanvibhāgavrara consists in sharing one's own possession with others. The householder is expected to earn his livelihood in a just way and share it with holy monks or a pious householder. It also includes serving the sādhus, sick and needy people.
In adition to these main rules the householder is expected to practise many rules such as offering salutation to the Jinas, gurus and monks establishment of Jina temples and daily worship of Jinas.
These major and minor vows should be observed regularly by the housebolder. In adition to the above-mentioned twelve vows there is another very important vow which is to be observed by the householder either in special circumstances. i.e. when the householder is not able to observe religious vows on account of unavoidable bodily infirmities and the like or on the occasion of natural death known in all probability, That is known as sailekhana vrata in which step by step everything is renounced by abandoning food, fear, dissatisfection and sorrows etc., and giving up the body. It is a kind of invitation to voluntary spiritual death. It should be practised mentally, vocally and physically. By practising all these vows, the householders obtain heaven after death and the perfection of these duties make them perfectly pure and leads them to liberation within eight births.