Jain Shravakachar - Book Summary

This document is a comprehensive guide to the conduct and practices of a Jain lay follower (Shravak). Titled "Jain Shravakachar," it was authored by Kulchandravijay and translated by Rasiklal Choxi, published by Shah Ishwarlal Kishanji Kothari.

The book is dedicated to the spiritual well-being and upright conduct of Jain lay followers, offering detailed guidelines for a religious and ethical life.

Here's a summary of the key themes and sections covered:

Core Principles and Qualifications of a Shravak: The text begins by defining a Shravak as a follower of Lord Jinenshwara, whose conduct is known as Jainachar. A true Shravak is characterized by:

Simple Nature (Saral Swabhav): An honest and uncomplicated disposition.
Adept Intellect (Nipun Buddhi): Sharp and discerning wisdom.
Love for Justice (Nyay Priyata): A commitment to fairness and righteousness.
Firm Adherence to Vows (Dridh Pratidnyapalana): Unwavering commitment to their principles and vows.

These qualities enable a Shravak to embrace the path of Right Faith (Samyakttva), the lesser vows (Anuvrat), and the training vows (Shikshavrat).

Categorization of Duties: The Shravak's duties are divided into six categories:

Daily (Dainik): Routines to be followed every day.
Nightly (Ratri): Practices for the evening and before sleep.
Festival/Occasion-Based (Parva): Observances during auspicious days and festivals.
Quarterly (Chaturmasik): Practices during the four-month rainy season retreat.
Annual (Varshik): Duties to be performed once a year.
Life-Stage/Milestone (Janma Kartavya): Actions associated with significant life events.

Benefits of Adherence: Following these principles leads to:

Obedience to the Lord's commands.
Mental peace and happiness.
Manifestation of religious results.
Stabilization and growth of virtuous qualities.
Becoming an inspiration for others.
Attainment of higher rebirths and ultimately, liberation (Moksha).

Detailed Daily Duties:

Waking Up: Rise before sunrise, recite the Namokar Mahamantra eight times.
Personal Hygiene: Observing specific directions for answering nature's calls and maintaining cleanliness.
Self-Reflection (Atma Chintan): Contemplating one's identity, lineage, deity, guru, religion, and the cyclical nature of life and death.
Staying Alert: Techniques to overcome sleepiness.
Communication: Speaking softly to avoid disturbing others and causing unnecessary harm.
Spiritual Practices: Engaging in Samayik (equanimity), Pratikraman (repentance), and Swadhyaya (self-study).
Dream Interpretation: Performing Kayotsarg (standing meditation) if experiencing disturbing dreams.
Fasts and Vows: Observing fasts like Navkashi and taking vows before sunrise.
Respect for Elders: Offering greetings to parents and elders, drawing blessings.
Self-Observation: Looking at one's reflection in a mirror for tilak and self-awareness.
Deity Worship (Prabhudharshan, Vandan, Poojan): Daily worship of Arihant deities, emphasizing purity in all aspects of worship (body, clothes, mind, place, materials, offerings, and rituals).
- Seven Purity Aspects for Worship: Body, clothing, mind, ground, utensils, offerings, and ritual. Detailed instructions are provided for each.
- Five Entrances (Panch Abhigam): Rules for entering the temple, including leaving certain items outside, showing reverence, wearing appropriate attire, and maintaining a focused mind.
- Ten Pillars (Dash Trik): Detailed guidelines on specific actions within the temple, such as bowing, circumambulating, offering worship (Anga Poojan, Agrapooja, Bhava Poojan), and maintaining proper posture and focus.
Guru Worship (Guru Vandan): Showing respect to spiritual teachers, asking about their well-being, and listening to their teachings. The importance of following thirty-three types of respect towards gurus is highlighted.
Evening Practices: After evening Pratikraman, engaging in study, meditation, and discussing religious topics with family members.
Sleep Rituals (Shayan Vidhi): Washing feet, taking refuge in the four Sharanas (Arihant, Siddha, Sadhu, Dharma), reciting the Namokar Mahamantra, and remembering virtuous souls.
Contemplation Before Sleep: Reflecting on acts of kindness, causing harm to others, unfulfilled duties, personal weaknesses, self-perception versus reality, and practicing the twelve Bhavanas (contemplations) and four Bhavanas (friendship, joy, compassion, indifference).
Conquering Inner Enemies: Strategies to overcome lust (Kama), anger (Krodh), pride (Mana), greed (Lobha), attachment (Moha), hatred (Dvesh), jealousy (Matsarya), etc. through virtues like purity, forgiveness, detachment, humility, honesty, contentment, friendship, discrimination, joy, and sense control.
Positive Resolutions (Shubh Sankalp): Encouraging auspicious thoughts and resolutions for a better future.

Festival/Occasion-Based Duties (Parva Kartavya):

Making the human life successful through good deeds.
Accumulating merit on auspicious days like Ashtami, Chaturdashi, and Pancham.
Observing specific fasts and observances for major festivals like Ashtahnika, Paryushan, and Diwali.
Performing various types of penance (Tapa) and meditating on the Kalyanaks (auspicious events) of Tirthankaras.

Quarterly Duties (Chaturmasik Kartavya):

Observing stricter principles regarding possessions, food, and activities during the monsoon season due to the increased presence of life forms.
Avoiding certain foods and activities that might cause harm to living beings.
Following rules of restraint in travel and activities.
Accepting specific resolutions and vows for the four-month period.

Annual Duties (Varshik Kartavya): These are eleven significant annual observances:

Sangh Puja: Honoring the four-fold Jain community (monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers).
Sadharmik Vatsalya: Showing affection and support to fellow Jains, especially those in need.
Yatra Trik: Engaging in Astahnika Yatra (pilgrimage during Ashtahnika), Rath Yatra (procession of deities), and Tirth Yatra (visiting holy sites).
Snatra Mahotsav: Performing the ritual bathing ceremony of deities, replicating the celestial event.
Devdravya Vriddhi: Contributing to temple funds and resources through various offerings and donations.
Maha Puja: Performing grand worship ceremonies with elaborate rituals and offerings.
Ratri Jagran: Staying awake at night in devotion.
Shrut Bhakti: Worship and veneration of Jain scriptures.
Ujamna: Celebrating the completion of vows, fasts, or religious studies.
Tirth Prabhavna: Spreading the glory of Jainism through grand processions and events honoring spiritual leaders.
Alochna: Confessing one's sins and faults to a spiritual guide for purification. The benefits of Alochna are detailed, including purification, mental peace, and overcoming karma.

Life-Stage/Milestone Duties (Janma Kartavya): These are eighteen significant duties that are generally performed once in a lifetime:

Acquiring a suitable residence.
Gaining knowledge and skills.
Marriage.
Forming friendships and alliances.
Building Jain temples and installing idols.
Initiating family members into asceticism.
Bestowing spiritual titles upon ascetics.
Commissioning the writing or printing of scriptures.
Constructing Poushadhshalas (meditation centers).
Accepting Right Faith (Samyakttva) and vows for life.
Taking initiation (Diksha).
Renouncing worldly activities if initiation is not possible.
Observing lifelong celibacy.
Performing special fasts and observances.
Performing the final rites and rituals of death (Antim Aradhana).

The Twelve Vows (Shravak ke Bar Vrat): The book then elaborates on the twelve vows that a Jain householder should ideally undertake:

Five Anuvratas (Lesser Vows):
1. Sthula Pranatipt Viraman Vrat: Abstinence from gross violence against living beings.
2. Sthula Mrushavada Viraman Vrat: Abstinence from gross falsehood.
3. Sthula Adattadan Viraman Vrat: Abstinence from gross theft.
4. Svadarasamtosha - Parastri Viraman Vrat: Chastity and restraint from adultery.
5. Sthula Parigrah Pariman Vrat: Moderation of possessions.
Three Gunavrata (Enhancing Vows): 6. Dig Viraman Vrat: Restraint of movement in specific directions. 7. Bhogopabhog Pariman Vrat: Restriction on the consumption of consumable and usable items. 8. Anartha Dand Viraman Vrat: Abstinence from purposeless harm and sinful activities.
Four Shikshavrata (Training Vows): 9. Samayik Vrat: Practicing equanimity for a set period daily. 10. Deshavakashik Vrat: Extending the scope of vows for specific times or regions. 11. Paushadh Vrat: Observances similar to monastic fasting and abstinences for a day or night. 12. Atithi Samvibhag Vrat: Offering food and sustenance to deserving ascetics.

For each vow, the text details its meaning, vows to be taken, forbidden actions (Atichara), and practices (Karani).

Conclusion: The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of Dharma (righteousness) as the ultimate auspicious principle that saves beings from falling into lower realms and guides them towards higher ones. It reiterates the significance of Right Faith (Samyakttva) and continuous practice of the vows, advocating for the company of virtuous people, reflection on worldly impermanence, and the cultivation of positive attitudes to achieve spiritual peace and ultimately, liberation.

The text is presented as a guide for Shravakas to live a disciplined, virtuous, and spiritually progressive life in accordance with the teachings of Jainism.