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2.
Importance assigned to five vratas |
The second distinguishing
feature of the ethical code prescribed for the Jainas is the importance
assigned to the five main vratas or vows in the life not only of an
ascetic but also of a householder. The five main vows of ahimsa, satya,
asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha form the basis on which the
superstructure of Jaina ethics has been raised. They give a definite
outlook on life and create a particular type of mental attitude. The very
essence of Jaina philosophy is transformed into action in the shape of
observance of these five vows.
Though these vows on their
face appear to be mere abstentions from injury, falsehood, theft,
unchastity and worldly attachments. their implications are really
extensive and they permeate the entire social life of the community. This
is because it has been enjoined that these five faults should be avoided
in three ways termed as (a) krta, that is, a person should not commit any
fault himself; (b) karita, that is, a person should not incite others to
commit such an act; and (c) anumodita, that is, a person should not even
approve of it subsequent to its commission by others.
In view of this extension
of the field of avoidance of five faults, we find that detailed rules of
conduct have been laid down for observance in the matter of abstentions
from these faults in the following way:
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Himsa
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Himsa or injury has been
defined as hurting of the vitalities caused through want of proper care
and caution. But the meaning is not limited to this definition alone. It
is stated that piercing, binding, causing pain, overloading and starving
or not feeding at proper times, are also forms of himsa and as such
these forms must be avoided.
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Asatya
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Asatya, i.e., falsehood,
in simple terms, is to speak hurtful words. But the meaning is further
extended, and spreading false doctrines, revealing the secrets and
deformities of others, backbiting, making false documents, and breach of
trust are also considered as forms of falsehood, and therefore, these
should be abstained from.
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Chaurya
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Chaurya, i.e., theft, is
to take anything which is not given. But a wide meaning is attached to
the term theft. That is why imparting instruction on the method of
committing theft, receiving stolen property, evading the injunction of
the law (by selling things at inordinate prices), adulteration, and
keeping false weights and measures, are all considered as forms of theft
and one must guard oneself against them.
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Abrahma
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Abrahma, i.e., unchastity,
is also considered to have several forms. As a result, matchmaking
(bringing about marriages, as a hobby), unnatural gratification,
indulging in voluptuous speech, visiting immoral married women, and
visiting immoral unmarried women are all forms of unchastity, and they
should be avoided.
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Parigraha
The fault of Parigraha,
i.e., worldly attachments, consists in desiring more than what is
needed by an individual. Hence accumulating even necessary articles in
large numbers, expressing wonder at the prosperity of another,
excessive greed, transgressing the limits of possession, and changing
the proportions of existing possessions are all forms of parigraha,
and therefore these should be discarded.
It may be noted that the
last vow of aparigraha or parigraha-parimana is very distinctive as it
indirectly aims at economic equalization by peaceful prevention of undue
accumulation of capital in individual hands. Further, in this vow it is
recommended that a householder should fix, beforehand, the limit of his
maximum belongings, and should, in no case, exceed it. If he ever happens
to earn more than that limit, it is also recommended that he must spend it
away in charities, the best and recognized forms of which are four viz.,
distribution of medicine, spread of knowledge, provision for saving lives
of people in danger, and feeding the hungry and the poor.
Obviously these five vows
are of a great social value as they accord a religious sanction to some of
the most important public and private interests and rights which are, in
modern times, safeguarded by the laws of the state. It has been
specifically pointed out by Jaina scholars that a due observance of the
vows would save a man from application of almost any of the sections of
the Indian Penal Code.
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