Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 4
which was added by Lord Mahavira to the argaf aЯ of Pārsvanatha wherefrom the latter's religion came to be called as the religion of fivefold vows (पंच महाव्रत).
Here the greatest confusion which leads to misinterpretation of the word in question relates to the problem as to which one vow was added to the agafa of Parsvanatha, consequently converting it to the पंचमहाब्रत of Mahāvira. The fact is that अपरिग्रह formed a part of the argaf aЯ and it included observance of continence or abstinence from sexual indulgence as well. The reason was that 'woman' too was regarded as a possession and she, further, abetted ones desire for possession.
Literally बहिद्धादाण वेरमणं should mean बहिस्तादादानात् वेरमणम् meaning not indulging in that which is not normally needed. Thus it should mean practice of non-attachment of अपरिग्रह.
It was due to the misconception about the vow of non-attachment that later on resulted in cases of monk's indulgence in sex. This prompted Mahavira to make the vow more stringent and to pinpoint the observance of chastity as important. As such he preferred to explicitly state the implication of the discipline of non-attachment by adding the vow of abstinence from sexual indulgence. Thus the vow of continence was given an independent status by Mahavira. gaf я provided only for abstinence from injury, untruth, stealing and possession. So afgez¤® should be interpreted as fug and not as . This view is upheld by अभयदेव 11 also.
Another meaning of the word in question may be बहिः + अध्वनः बहि means outside and means way, meaning thereby abstinence from taking charity from followers of other or different religion or sect.
In any view of the matter, the meaning attached to बहिद्धादानाओ वेरमणं by the commentators as abstaining from all kinds of sexual intercourse is misleading and inconsistent. Of the two meanings discussed above the first meaning is however relevant to the context. The word connotes अपरिग्रह pure and simple. It does not mean
मैथुनोत्सर्ग.
.
11. Vide Sukhlal Sanghavi's 'Darsana aura Chintana' Jain Dharma aura Darśana'-p. 14.