Panch Anuvrato Ke Aticharo Ki Prasangikta - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Panch Anuvrato ke Aticharo ki Prasangikta" by Prakashchand Jain, based on the provided PDF content:

Book Title: Panch Anuvrato ke Aticharo ki Prasangikta (The Relevance of Transgressions of the Five Vows) Author: Prakashchand Jain Publisher: Z_Jinavani_002748.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/229763/1

Core Argument:

The article, authored by Jain scholar Prakashchand Jain, emphasizes the significant role of refining the five Anuvratas (minor vows) during the Shravak Pratikraman (repentance ceremony for householders). It highlights that while major Indian philosophies, Yoga, Buddhism, and even Indian law, recognize principles like non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession in some form, Jainism specifically defines transgressions (Aticharas) of these vows. The key distinction is that in religion, transgressions lead to repentance and atonement, whereas in law, they result in physical or financial punishment. Understanding the nature and relevance of these transgressions is crucial for living an ethically pure and religious life.

Detailed Breakdown of Each Anuvrata and its Aticharas:

The article meticulously details the five Anuvratas and their associated five transgressions each:

1. Thulyao Panaitavayo Veramnan (Abstinence from Gross Violence): This vow involves a householder's intentional abandonment of harming innocent sentient beings (tras jivas). The five transgressions are:

Bandhe (Binding): Tying an offender in tight bonds out of anger. While not causing death, it inflicts suffering, thus being a transgression. This is often done to animals, children, or servants.
Vahe (Beating): Beating dependents (animals, children, servants) in a fit of anger. This is considered a further stage of punishment beyond binding.
Chhavichhe- (Mutilation/Grievous Injury): Severing or piercing body parts out of extreme anger. This causes extreme pain but doesn't lead to death, hence it's a transgression, not a complete violation.
Aibhare (Overburdening): Forcing animals to carry excessive loads, making children work beyond their capacity, demanding extra hours from servants without compensation. This constitutes exploitation, a precursor to violence, and thus a transgression.
Bhattapana Vicche (Depriving of Food and Water): Stopping the food and water supply of subordinates (children, servants, animals) or cutting their wages due to dissatisfaction with their work or any loss incurred. This causes suffering and is a precursor to violence, making it a transgression.

2. Thulyao Musavayao Veramnan (Abstinence from Gross Lying): This vow involves abstaining from five types of gross lies concerning daughters, cows, bulls, land, entrusted property, and false witness. The five transgressions are:

Sahasabbhakkhan- (False Accusation without Reason): Suddenly accusing someone without proper cause, like falsely alleging illicit relations or speaking ill of the speaker. This is a precursor to lying and thus a transgression.
Rahasaabbhakkhan- (False Accusation in Secret Conversation): Falsely accusing individuals during private conversations, based on assumptions about their actions rather than direct knowledge. This is a precursor to lying and a transgression.
Svadaramantabheye (Revealing one's Wife's Secrets): Disclosing intimate or private matters shared by one's wife. This erodes trust in marital relationships and is a form of betrayal, a precursor to lying, making it a transgression.
Mosovayase (False Preaching/Misinterpretation): Presenting an incorrect or contrary interpretation of religious scriptures without truly understanding their meaning or essence. While not intending harm, the misrepresentation makes it a transgression.
Kudalekhakarana (Writing Falsehoods): Composing writings with incorrect interpretations or meanings of scriptures, driven by personal bias rather than accurate understanding. This is considered a transgression.

3. Thulyao Adinnadanaoo Veramnan (Abstinence from Gross Stealing): This vow entails refraining from five types of gross theft, such as breaking walls, untying knots, using keys on locks, highway robbery, or deliberately taking someone's property. The five transgressions are:

Tenahade (Accepting Stolen Goods): Purchasing or accepting goods known to be stolen. This encourages thieves and is a punishable offense by law, thus a transgression.
Takkaraprayoge (Assisting a Thief): Providing assistance to thieves, such as teaching them methods of theft or supplying them with tools. This encourages criminal activity and is a transgression.
Viruddharajjayikarme (Acting Against the Law): Violating government regulations, such as not paying taxes or trading in prohibited goods. This is a form of stealing but not among the five gross types, making it a transgression.
Kudatuilakudamane (Using False Weights and Measures): Manipulating weights and measures to cheat customers, which is unethical and illegal. This encourages theft and is a transgression.
Tappadirupavahare (Adulterating Goods): Mixing inferior substances with superior ones for greater profit. This harms health, is illegal, and is a form of stealing, thus a transgression.

4. Thulyao Mehunaao Veramnan (Abstinence from Gross Sensuality): This vow involves abstaining from sexual misconduct, including fidelity to one's spouse and respecting the marital boundaries of others. The five transgressions are:

Ittariyaparigrahiagamane (Intercourse with a Spouse Below the Age of Consent): Engaging in sexual activity with one's spouse before she reaches the legally and religiously prescribed age. This is considered harmful from physical, mental, and religious perspectives.
Aparigrahiagamane (Intercourse with a Betrothed Woman Before Marriage): Having sexual relations with a woman who is engaged but not yet married. Engagement doesn't make her a wife, and the engagement can be broken, making this a transgression.
Anangakidakaraṇe (Non-Genital Sexual Acts): Engaging in sexual play with parts of the body other than the genitals or using objects for sexual stimulation. This is seen as a sign of mental imbalance and a transgression.
Paravivahakarane (Arranging Marriages for Others): Facilitating marriages for individuals other than one's dependents. This is an endorsement of sensual indulgence and can lead to complications if the relationship sours, making it a transgression.
Kamabhogativvabhilase (Intense Desire for Sensual Pleasures): Cultivating strong desires for sensual pleasures, such as reading erotic literature, watching suggestive films, or using aphrodisiacs. These activities corrupt the vow and are considered transgressions.

5. Thulyao Parigrahaao Veramnan (Abstinence from Gross Possession): This vow involves limiting one's possessions beyond a specified limit for nine types of wealth. The five transgressions involve preparations to exceed these limits:

Kshettavathuppamaṇaikkame (Exceeding Limits on Land and Houses): Preparing to acquire more land or houses than the set limit. Acquiring more would break the vow entirely, so preparing to do so is considered the transgression.
Hirannasuvannappamaṇaikkame (Exceeding Limits on Silver and Gold): Preparing to possess more silver and gold than the stipulated limit.
Dhanadhanyappamaṇaikkame (Exceeding Limits on Wealth and Grains): Preparing to accumulate more wealth (money) and grains than the set limit.
Duppayachauppayappamaṇaikkame (Exceeding Limits on Servants and Cattle): Preparing to employ more servants or keep more cattle than the prescribed limit.
Kuviyappamaṇaikkame (Exceeding Limits on Other Metals and Furniture): Preparing to possess more of other metals (besides gold and silver) and furniture beyond the stipulated limit.

Conclusion:

The article concludes by stating that the unwavering observance of the five Anuvratas leads to a life of non-violence, integrity, and religiosity. Therefore, it is essential to understand the nature of these transgressions and actively avoid them to uphold the sanctity of these vows.