their sādhus—in fact, as a Jaina friend said to the writer, ‘We use the time to cram the points of our religion’.
In keeping this vow there are five faults which must be avoided: neglecting to search the clothes for vermin; failing to remove it carefully out of harm's way when found; any other carelessness which may result in injuring insect life; not fasting as one has vowed; and allowing oneself to sleep in the day instead of meditating. The keeping of this Poṣadha vow is considered one of the highest of religious duties, and at the solemn yearly fast of Pajjusaṇa even careless people keep it most strictly. As a rule it is more scrupulously observed by women than by men.
The following is a literal translation of the actual words used when this vow is taken:
‘I take the eleventh vow called Poṣadha, in which I promise to abstain for twenty-four hours from food, drink, fruits, sopārī, sex enjoyment, from wearing ornaments (gold, silver, or diamond), from wearing a garland or anointing my body. I will not use weapons, or a heavy club, or any destructive missile. This I will observe for twenty-four hours and will not infringe it myself, nor cause others to infringe it, in mind, body, or speech.’
xii. Atithi saṁvibhāga vatra.The twelfth vow, or Atithi saṁvibhāga vatra, which the Digambara call the Vaiyā vrata, runs as follows:
‘I take the twelfth vow, the Atithi saṁvibhāga vatra, by which I promise to give to Śramaṇa or Nirgrantha any of the fourteen things which they can accept without blame, namely: food, drink, fruits, sopārī,[1] clothes, pots, blankets, towels, and things which can be lent and returned, such as seats, benches, beds, quilts, &c., and medicine.’
The purpose of this vow is to encourage the laity to support the ascetic community, on whom they bestow in alms food, water, clothing, pots, blankets, and towels for the feet, and also lend them beds, tables and other furniture. They must never give a sādhu unboiled water, bread hot from the fire, bread on which green vegetables have rested, or anything that has gone bad. Neither must they call
- ↑ Monks may not take betel-nut whole, but may take it chopped.
