Shravakni Jayna Pothi

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Shravakni Jayna Pothi" in English:

Book Title: Shravakni Jayna Pothi (A Jain Householder's Guide to Jayna/Ahimsa) Author(s): Tribhuvanbhanu Prakashan Trust Publisher: Tribhuvanbhanu Prakashan Trust

This book, "Shravakni Jayna Pothi," is a comprehensive guide for Jain laypersons (Shravaks and Shravikas) on the principles and practices of Jayna, which essentially refers to Ahimsa (non-violence) in daily life, with a strong emphasis on preventing harm to living beings. The publication aims to revive and spread awareness about these crucial Jain tenets that are seen as the foundation of the Jain community's prosperity.

Core Message and Purpose:

The book emphasizes that Jainism's strength and progress are attributed to Jinpooja (worship of the Jinas), Jivdaya (compassion for living beings), and Jayna. However, it laments the decline in the adherence to these principles due to modern influences and ignorance. The book aims to reintroduce these practices, particularly focusing on how a Jain household can be a "temple of Jayna" and how every householder should be a devotee of Jaynadevi (the goddess of Ahimsa). It's presented not just for reading but as a practical guide for implementation.

Key Themes and Content:

The book is structured to provide detailed guidance on various aspects of daily life to uphold the principles of Ahimsa and prevent harm to microscopic and macroscopic life forms. It covers:

1. The Importance of Jayna: It explains that just as Ashtha Pravachanmata is the mother of ascetics, Jayna is the mother of householders. It highlights the pervasive presence of life in everyday surroundings (insects, germs, water, earth, fire, air, plants) and how unintentional violence can occur in simple actions. Diligent practice of Jayna protects one from sin and future suffering.

2. Jayna Utensils (Upakaran): It lists and describes essential tools used in Jain practice for maintaining Jayna, such as:

   • Galnu (Filter): For straining water.
   • Savarni (Broom): Soft broom for cleaning.
   • Pujani: A small brush made of soft grass for cleaning.
   • Charavalo/Charvali: Tools for cleaning oneself and objects.
   • Morpinchhi (Peacock Feather Brush): For dusting books, photos, etc.
   • Charna (Sieves): For sifting grains, flour, spices.
   • Chandarvo (Canopy): A cloth hung in the kitchen to prevent insects from falling into food.

3. Prevention of Life Births (Jivotpatti): The book stresses that preventing the birth of life forms is more crucial than protecting existing ones. It offers practical advice:

   • Maintaining extreme cleanliness in the home.
   • Minimizing water spillage and dampness.
   • Not spilling food particles.
   • Proper disposal of leftover food and waste.
   • Ensuring proper ventilation and sunlight.
   • Keeping food containers tightly sealed.
   • Consuming food within its prescribed freshness period.

4. Identifying and Protecting Various Life Forms: A significant portion of the book is dedicated to identifying and safeguarding different types of living beings, providing specific advice for each:

   • Nigod: Discusses the microscopic, infinitely-bodied organisms found in damp surfaces like algae. It advises against stepping on or disturbing these areas and suggests preventative measures for pathways.
   • Fungus (Fug): Explains how fungus grows on stale food and other items due to moisture. It is identified as anantkay (infinitely-bodied). It advises discarding any food with fungus and avoiding contact with items covered in it. It also cautions against using antibiotics derived from fungus.
   • Akay (Water Entities): It emphasizes that water itself is a form of life (apkay) and contains numerous one-sensed beings. It strongly advises minimal and careful use of water, straining it before use, and avoiding wastage.
   • Trasa Jiva (Mobile Life Forms): Specifically addresses the mobile life forms present in water (larvae, etc.) and the harm caused by their unintentional consumption or killing. It condemns the use of geysers without filtering water and the practice of swimming.
   • Sammurcchim Jiva (Life forms born from combinations): Explains how these beings arise from impure substances (like bodily excretions) if they don't dry within 48 minutes. It provides advice on promptly drying such materials.
   • Ants (Kidi): Discusses ants, their attraction to sweet substances, and how to manage them non-violently by keeping food clean and using deterrents like ash or chalk. It warns against using poisonous ant killers.
   • Mosquitoes (Machchar): Identifies mosquitoes as four-sensed beings and emphasizes preventing their breeding through cleanliness, sealing entry points, and using mosquito nets. It discourages the use of mosquito-killing sprays.
   • Flies (Makhi): Highlights flies as four-sensed creatures that spread disease and advises keeping food and water covered, maintaining cleanliness, and disposing of waste promptly.
   • Bedbugs (Mankad): Describes bedbugs as three-sensed insects and suggests relocating them gently rather than killing them, as killing them is considered both cruel and foolish.
   • Cockroaches (Vanda): Identifies cockroaches as four-sensed creatures thriving in unclean conditions and advises on preventing their breeding by maintaining dryness in bathrooms and kitchens and using safe deterrents. It strongly opposes the use of chemical cockroach sprays.
   • Termites (Udhai): Explains termites as three-sensed insects that damage wood and paper. It advises against pest control and suggests natural methods to prevent them.
   • Grain Pests (Dhanya na Kida): Details how weevils and other pests infest grains and flour. It recommends cleaning grains thoroughly, using oil (like castor oil) and camphor to deter pests, and avoiding pre-ground flour.
   • Caterpillars (Iyalo): Highlights the presence of caterpillars in vegetables, especially leafy greens and pods. It advises careful inspection and washing of vegetables and discourages the consumption of certain vegetables known to harbor pests.
   • Nishiddh (Forbidden) Foods: The book lists numerous forbidden foods (Abhakshya) and their reasons, often related to the presence of life or improper preparation methods. This includes many processed foods, certain vegetables, and items made with animal products.

5. Specific "Jayna Sutras" (Principles/Practices): A section provides concise rules for daily conduct, such as:

   • Keeping food containers covered.
   • Cleaning cooking surfaces before use.
   • Avoiding lighting fires before sunrise or after sunset.
   • Minimizing the use of electricity.
   • Avoiding insecticidal sprays.
   • Not mixing hot and cold water.
   • Avoiding animal-derived products in soaps and toothpaste.
   • Not bursting firecrackers.
   • Not walking or disturbing vegetation unnecessarily.
   • Avoiding abortion and advising against it.
   • Being cautious with dairy products, especially with pulses, to avoid Dvidala (second-sensed life).
   • Avoiding leafy vegetables during specific festivals.
   • Carefully inspecting all food items before consumption and preparation.
   • Avoiding certain fruits and nuts during specific seasons or if showing signs of infestation.
   • Using separate sieves for different types of grains and flours.
   • Using natural remedies for pest control.
   • Avoiding processed and packaged foods.

6. Night Eating (Ratribhojan): A significant portion is dedicated to the prohibition of night eating, explaining its multifaceted harm:

   • Spiritual Harm: It is considered a "highway to hell" due to the immense violence caused by unseen microscopic life forms in food consumed after sunset. It leads to the accumulation of severe karmic debts.
   • Physical Harm: It is detrimental to health, leading to indigestion, various diseases, and disrupting the body's natural rhythms.
   • Ethical Harm: It is seen as a deviation from natural behavior, observed even in animals.
   • Scientific Rationale: It explains that digestion is optimized in sunlight, and the body's digestive processes are slowed at night.
   • Scriptural Support: It quotes various Jain texts and philosophical insights to emphasize the severe consequences of night eating.

7. Consequences of Collective Sin: The book warns about the amplified negative karma resulting from collective adherence to unrighteous practices like night eating or consuming forbidden foods in social gatherings.

8. The Importance of Non-Violence (Ahimsa): The book concludes by reiterating that Ahimsa is the mother of all happiness and the path to a virtuous life, leading to health, prosperity, and spiritual well-being. It encourages readers to emulate the devotion to Ahimsa shown by historical figures like King Kumarpal.

In essence, "Shravakni Jayna Pothi" serves as an exhaustive manual for Jain householders to live a life of conscious non-violence, meticulously detailing how to conduct daily activities with utmost care to minimize harm to all forms of life. It's a call to action to integrate these ancient Jain principles into modern living.