Samyaktva Sahit Bar Vrat - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Samyaktva Sahit Bar Vrat" (Twelve Vows with Right Faith), based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose:

The booklet "Samyaktva Sahit Bar Vrat" is a guide and commitment document for Jains undertaking the practice of the twelve vows, grounded in Samyaktva (Right Faith). It serves as a personal pledge and a reminder of the principles and practices associated with these vows.

Key Sections and Their Content:

Page 1: Title and Salutations:
- The book title is "Samyaktva Sahit Bar Vrat: Tungi Samaj tatha Pratiggnapatra" (Twelve Vows with Right Faith: Brief Understanding and Pledge Letter).
- It's published by Jainnagar Jain Sangh, Paldi, Ahmedabad.
- It's inspired by Acharya Bhadra Shrimad Vijay Abhaychandrasurishwarji Maharaj Saheb.
- It's dedicated to the Jain Sangh of Dharmnath Pol, Jainnagar, Paldi, Ahmedabad.
- It includes reverential salutations to the lineage of Gurus.
Page 2: Instructions for Use:
- Frequency of Reading: This pledge letter should be read at least once every few days, weekly, or at most monthly.
- Preservation: The letter should be carefully preserved.
- Amendments: Permission is granted to modify the pledge with the Guru's knowledge if the understanding changes or to avoid breaking vows or to gain further benefit.
- Flexibility: If the full extent of the vows cannot be undertaken, lesser or modified versions are acceptable. Understanding unclear points from the Guru is encouraged.
- Memorization of Transgressions: Efforts should be made to read, understand, and memorize the Aticharas (transgressions or shortcomings) of the vows.
Page 3: Samyaktva (Right Faith) - The Foundation:
- Definition: Samyaktva is the root of all vows.
- Pledge:
  - True God (Sudev): Only Lord Arihant, the Omniscient and Omniscient One, is the true God.
  - True Guru (Suguru): Only ascetics who have taken the five great vows (Panch Mahavrat) and are virtuous, scriptural, and follow Guru's commands are the true Gurus.
  - True Religion (Sudharma): Jain Dharma is the only path to liberation and welfare.
  - These three are accepted, revered, and worshipped.
- Actions (Karani): Daily worship and darshan of the Lord, performing pilgrimage, Navkarshi (fasting for a specific period), reciting the Navkar mantra, etc. are to be performed.
- Caution (Savdhani): Avoid taking oaths in the name of Dharma, believing in or praising false gods, false gurus, or false festivals. Protect the lineage (Gotraja etc.)
Page 4: The First Two Vows (Partial):
- 1. Sthool Himsa Tyag Vrat (Vow to Abstain from Gross Violence):
  - Pledge: Not to intentionally kill innocent living beings without reason.
  - Caution: Avoid eating toys shaped like animals, tearing animal pictures, using water without care, or putting used glasses/pots into water without rinsing.
- 2. Sthool Asatya Tyag Vrat (Vow to Abstain from Gross Untruth):
  - Pledge: Not to speak lies that cause significant harm to others. This includes lies regarding marriage prospects, employees, servants, animals, land, or houses. Not to misappropriate deposits or give false testimony.
  - Caution: Avoid hurtful words (Marmavachan), revealing secrets or faults, advising lies, or saying things that obstruct Dharma.
Page 5: Continued Vows (Partial):
- Caution (continued): Speak thoughtfully, maintain silence, etc.
- 3. Sthool Chori Tyag Vrat (Vow to Abstain from Gross Theft):
  - Pledge: Not to pick pockets, steal bags, engage in robbery, embezzle wealth, commit fraud in partnerships, or participate in theft partnerships. Not to steal tickets, taxes, or passes.
  - Caution: Not to take or keep stolen goods, found items, or property of unknown ownership.
  - Restriction (Jayanana): To avoid situations where one is forced to do something due to unbearable taxes or in someone's service.
Page 6: Continued Vows (Partial):
- 4. Parastri Tyag Vrat (Vow to Abstain from Another's Spouse):
  - Pledge: To renounce carnal enjoyment with women other than one's wife. For women, to renounce it with men other than their husband. Renounce enjoyment with deities or same-sex individuals. Renounce self-pleasure (Hasta Karma).
  - Caution: Avoid being alone with another's spouse, looking at suggestive pictures, reading provocative books, or using artificial aids.
  - Action (Karani): Walk with lowered gaze, study the lives of celibates like Sthoolbhadra Swami, and observe celibacy for 5-10 days a month, on Athai and Parva days, during pilgrimages, and also for a specified number of days annually.
- 5. Parigrah Pariman Vrat (Vow to Limit Possession):
  - Pledge: To limit one's personal ownership (after deducting debts) of houses, shops, land, farms, machinery, jewelry, gold, silver, gems, property, furniture, utensils, etc., to a maximum value of Rupees [amount to be filled in].
Page 7: Continued Vows (Partial):
- Restriction (Jayanana): To adjust the limit if inflation increases significantly, while preserving the spirit of the vow. To make exceptions for the work of the religion without seeking personal fame.
- Caution: If sudden wealth is acquired, spend it immediately on religious or charitable activities while maintaining the predetermined limit.
- 6. Disha Pariman Vrat (Vow to Limit Directions):
  - Pledge: Not to travel beyond India.
  - Restriction (Jayanana): Exceptions are allowed for religious work or medical treatment.
Page 8: 7th Vow - Bhog Upbhog Pariman Vrat (Vow to Limit Consumption):
- This vow involves defining specific limits on the use of various items and activities. The pledge is made for four categories:
- Pledge 1: Renunciation of 22 forbidden food items (Abhakshya) and 32 types of rooted vegetables (Anantkay).
- Pledge 2: Renunciation of grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts other than those specified below.
- Restriction (Jayanana): Allowances for accidental consumption or medicinal use.
- Pledge 3: Limits on the daily use of specific items:
  1. Living substances (Sachit) - Quantity to be specified.
  2. Substances (Dravya) - Quantity to be specified.
  3. Processed items (Vigai) - Quantity to be specified.
  4. Footwear - Number of pairs.
  5. Chewing betel/mouth freshener (Tambol-Mukhvas) - Weight.
  6. Clothing - Number of items.
  7. Perfumes/scented items (Sughavanu) - Weight.
Page 9: Continued 7th Vow - Bhog Upbhog Pariman Vrat:
- Pledge 3 (Continued): Further limits on daily consumption: 8. Vehicles - Number. 9. Seating/Sleeping furniture (Shayya) - Number of chairs, beds, etc. 10. Balms/Lotions (Vilepan) - Weight. 11. Daytime sexual indulgence - Total abstinence. 12. Nighttime sexual indulgence - [blank for specification]. 13. Travel distance - Kilometers. 14. Bathing - Number of times. 15. Food and drink (Bhatpani) - Weight. 16. Earth element (Prithvikay - soil, etc.) - Weight. 17. Water element (Apkay - water) - Number of buckets. 18. Fire element (Teukay - stoves, lamps) - Number. 19. Air element (Vayukay - fans, swings) - Number. 20. Vegetation (Vanaspati - glass, etc.) - Weight. 21. Sharp objects (Asi - knives, scissors, needles, sticks, grinders, etc.) - Number. 22. Writing instruments (Masi - pencils, pens, chalk boxes, etc.) - Number. 23. Agricultural tools (Krishi - wells, axes, etc.) - Number.
Page 10: Continued 7th Vow - Bhog Upbhog Pariman Vrat:
- Pledge 4: Renunciation of 15 types of business/professions that involve harm to living beings. If engaged in such a business, an effort will be made to abandon it within a certain time.
  1. Business involving kilns/furnaces (Angarkarma).
  2. Business involving forests/gardens (Vankarma).
  3. Manufacturing or selling vehicles.
  4. Renting out or operating vehicles for hire.
  5. Excavating stone etc.
  6. Trade in ivory, pearls, yak tails, hides, etc. (Dantavanejya).
  7. Business involving lac, soap, resin, etc.
  8. Trade in liquids like meat, alcohol, ghee, oil (Rasavanejya).
  9. Business involving animal hair, wool, etc.
  10. Trade in opium, poison, intoxicating substances, toxic medicines, weapons, matches, abortion aids, etc.
  11. Businesses run by mills, gins, oil presses, etc., manufacturing or selling machinery.
  12. Castrating or branding animals.
  13. Burning or uprooting forests.
  14. Drying or filling wells, ponds, etc. (Jalshoshan).
  15. Gambling business or raising animals/birds for sport. Supporting hunters, prostitutes, thieves, etc.
- Absolutely Forbidden (Avashya Tyajya) - 22 Abhakshyas: Honey, meat, alcohol, butter, ice, hail, raw clay, poison, brinjal with many seeds, fruits with tiny seeds (like figs, poppy seeds), small fruits (like ber), unfamiliar fruits, pickle, uncooked legumes with milk/yogurt/buttermilk, fermented substances, stale items, nighttime food, specific fruits (Kothimda, Umbar, Plaksha, Pipli, Vad fruits), yogurt/buttermilk prepared more than two nights ago, five parts of radish, raw mango/papaya after a certain period, green coriander from monsoon onwards, colocasia leaves, sesame seeds, dried dates, raw sweets, etc.
- Absolutely Forbidden (Avashya Tyajya) - 32 Anantkayas: Potatoes, garlic, onions, yam, sweet potato, carrot, ginger, raw turmeric, tender tamarind, radish, elephant foot yam, new sprouts, sprouted grains, fungi, mushrooms, etc.
Page 11: Continued 7th Vow - AbhakshyasList:
- Grains: Kodo, wheat, rice, barley, jowar, bajra, maize, urad, kulthi, chana, chola, tuver, masoor, moong, math, peas, beans, and other grains.
- Vegetables: Bitter gourd, cucumber, gourds, kerda, kokum, kantola, gilo, cluster beans, ridge gourd, tomato, tinsi, sponge gourd, bottle gourd, dodi, parwal, okra, chili, mogri, mogra, lemon, valol, drumstick, sangri, cholaphali, groundnut.
Page 12: Continued 7th Vow - Vegetable and Fruit Lists:
- Leafy Vegetables (Bhaji Palo): Ajmod, ardavi, aradusi, aloo leaves, coriander, sonapuri, tulsi, tandarlo, betel leaf, mint, fenugreek leaves, neem leaves, lonani bhaji, suva bhaji.
- Fruits: Pineapple, amla, karonda, mango, chilbada, gunda, chikoo, guava, jamun, watermelon, pomegranate, grapes, orange, mosambi, santra, rayan, apple, sitafal, sugarcane, srifal varieties.
- Nuts and Dried Fruits (Mevo): Walnut, cashew, dates, dried figs, chironji, apricot, pistachio, almond, supari, fennel seeds.
- Spices and Salt: Salt, chili, pepper, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dill seeds, ajwain, dry ginger, pippali, mustard seeds, sesame seeds, cumin.
- Note: Users are instructed to cross out unnecessary items from the lists and add any missing items with their decided quantities.
Page 13: 8th Vow - Anarthdand Viraman Vrat (Vow to Abstain from Useless/Harmful Activities):
- Pledge: Not to intentionally watch hunting, wrestling, hangings, races, Holi celebrations, wars, wrestling, cinema, plays, circuses, Muharram processions, fireworks, etc. Not to indulge in recreational bathing, gambling, or reading novels.
- Penalties: To impose a penalty if gross negligence or significant error occurs.
- Restrictions: Not to raise animals or birds for hobby. Not to lend tools that cause violence (like knives, grinders) to just anyone. Not to give advice that leads to sin, e.g., suggesting installing a water pump, opening a factory if one has funds, or traveling to Kashmir if one has time.
Page 14: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Vows (Four Disciplinary Vows - Shiksha Vrat):
- 9. Samayik Vrat (Vow of Equanimity): Pledge to perform Samayik [number] times in the year.
- 10. Deshavakashik Vrat (Vow of Limited Travel): Pledge to limit travel [number] times in the year.
- 11. Paushadh Vrat (Vow of Paushadh Fasting): Pledge to observe Paushadh [number] times in the year.
- 12. Atithi Sanvibhag Vrat (Vow of Hospitality): To offer food (at the end of Paushadh fasting or through Ekasna - one meal a day) to guests (Atithi), which means saints and, at the very least, fellow Jains, using only permitted ingredients. Pledge to observe this [number] times in the year.
Page 15: Pledge Taker's Details:
- This section is for recording the name, age, the Guru who inspired the vows, the Guru who administered the vows, the date of taking the vows, and the place where the vows were taken.
Page 16: Publisher's Information:
- Details for printing services.

In essence, "Samyaktva Sahit Bar Vrat" is a structured framework for Jains to deepen their spiritual practice by understanding, committing to, and practicing the twelve vows, starting with the foundational principle of Right Faith and progressively limiting harmful actions, speech, and thoughts while cultivating virtuous conduct and detachment.