Itthi Parinna

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Itthi parinna," translated into English:

The provided text is an excerpt and analysis of a chapter from the Jain Agam scripture, specifically the Sutrakritanga. Titled "Itthi parinna" (meaning "The Nature of Women" or "Women's Affairs"), the chapter is presented as an important contribution to the study of Indian metrics.

Key Themes and Content:

The chapter, comprising 53 verses, delves into the delicate and often problematic interactions between Jain monks and women. It highlights the challenges faced by monks in maintaining their spiritual discipline (brahmacharya and renunciation) amidst unavoidable social contact with women, particularly during their daily alms rounds.

Core Arguments and Observations:

• The Inevitable Contact: The text acknowledges that while monks are ideally expected to avoid women, their daily practice of begging for alms necessitates interaction with women who often provide them with food. This regular contact presents inherent dangers to their ascetic path.
• Dangers and Pitfalls: The chapter vividly describes the various ways women can ensnare monks, using their charm, words, and actions to lure them back into worldly life. These include:
  • Deceptive Affection and Temptation: Women are depicted as using sweet talk, feigned humility, and various tricks to attract monks.
  • Physical and Emotional Entrapment: The text mentions women inviting monks to sit with them, wear their clothes, and even displaying parts of their bodies. It also speaks of emotional manipulation and captivating conversation.
  • The "Lioness and Cub" Analogy: One powerful analogy compares women trapping a monk to how a hunter traps a lion cub, implying a sophisticated and unavoidable capture.
  • The Allure of Domesticity: The text touches upon the temptation of domestic comforts and the societal pressures that might lead a monk back to worldly life.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: The chapter warns of the dire consequences for monks who fail to maintain their discipline. These include:
  • Regret and Suffering: Monks who succumb to temptation will later regret their actions, experiencing immense suffering.
  • Loss of Ascetic Identity: Such monks are no longer considered true ascetics or "nirgranthas" (those without worldly ties).
  • Social Disgrace and Scrutiny: Monks who engage in improper conduct are subject to criticism from both family members, friends, and the wider community, as well as suspicion from those offering them alms.
• Specific Warnings and Guidelines: The text provides explicit advice for monks:
  • Avoidance is Key: Monks should not look at women, agree to their bold suggestions, or even walk with them.
  • Discernment of Intent: Monks must recognize the manipulative nature of women's invitations and flattering words.
  • Abstinence from Familiarity: Monks should avoid any close contact with female relatives like daughters, daughters-in-law, and even female servants or companions.
  • The Danger of Proximity: The text uses analogies like the danger of proximity to fire for lac or poison for milk to illustrate how even learned monks can be corrupted by constant association with women.
  • The Deception of Words: Women's words often contradict their intentions, making them untrustworthy.
  • The "Sthana-vasi" Sect's Practices: The text implicitly refers to the practices and ethical considerations prevalent within the Sthana-vasi tradition of Jainism.
• The Importance of Vigilance: The overarching message is one of constant vigilance and self-protection for monks to preserve their spiritual purity and pursue liberation.

Metrical Significance:

A significant aspect highlighted in the analysis is the meter used in the verses. The chapter is composed in an ancient form of the "Arya" meter, which is considered historically significant and rare in later Prakrit poetry. The author and translator emphasize the painstaking effort to identify and analyze the original metrical structure, which has been corrupted in many manuscript and printed versions. This detailed metrical analysis is presented as a valuable scholarly contribution.

Scholarly Context:

The introduction by Professor Dr. Ludvig Alsford and the translation by Arunoday N. Jani frame the chapter within a broader academic discussion of Jain scriptures and Indian prosody. The text acknowledges previous scholarly work by figures like Jacobi and Schubring, while also aiming to correct perceived inaccuracies and provide a more definitive analysis, especially concerning the metrical structure. The critical apparatus (detailed comparison of different manuscript readings) further underscores the scholarly rigor of the work.

In essence, "Itthi parinna" serves as a critical examination of a crucial ethical challenge in Jain monasticism, offering practical advice and warnings against the dangers of attachment to women, all while being presented in a historically significant metrical form.