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The Unknown Pilgrims
c) Ahǎra-vidhi: The rite in regard to meal
Ähāra means food. This rite is the outward expression of an extreme form of ahiṁsā, aparigraha and tapas. The āryikās may accept only natural food of the purest sort. They have no bowl other than the pāṇi-pātra, their hands, and take food and drink only once a day.8
83
668
The āhāra-vidhi is a veritable liturgy, a ligurgy both cosmic and human in which all the elements are included, in which the celebrants are the aryikās. In this vidhi there is truly actualised a profound intercommunion between the two parties for a single end.
i) Navadhābhakti, the bhakti containing nine parts:84
1. Nimantraṇa, the invitation. In orthodox Digambara families the food is prepared with the utmost care; the wheat is ground at home and only water from a well or from a spring is used. If possible, cows are kept or at the least a careful watch is kept on the purity of the milk, and curds are prepared at home, etc.
In the middle of the morning, at about ten o'clock, the āryikās, having changed their sadi, proceed to the temple for devadarśana, a simple and brief bhāva-pūjā addressed to the arhats. During this time the śrāvikas of the place have prepared their meal. Knowing as they do that some āryikās are in their neighbourhood or in their village and the hour at which they
not strong enough, she must take nothing but nirasa, dry, tasteless food. She is permitted, however, to read books other than dharma-granthas and newspapers. She keeps total silence and touches no-one. At the end of the period she purifies herself with warm water, with the help of a śravika, after which the ganini assigns her a prayaścitta. Āryikās and sädhvis alike greatly deplore this type of ostracism.
83 This sub-section draws upon Jñānamati, 1976, pp. 31-38.
84 Bhakti in this context has the meaning of a ritual performed with great devotion; none of the bhakti texts previously mentioned are recited.
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