Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
This is the foremost text for the description of spiritual practices or code of conduct of a lay follower or a householder. This is the seventh aṅga of dvādaśaṅgī. It describes the life of ten upāsakas (lay followers) hence; it is named as 'Uvāsagadasāo'. In Jain tradition, household followers or follower laities are called by the name Upāsakā or Śramaṇopāsaka. There were many upāsakas of Lord Mahavira. Among them, life of ten prominent upāsakas has been described in this text.[1] 'Daśa' word is used both for ten numbers and also for the state or condition. In this text, since there are only ten stories of ten upāsakas, numerical meaning seems more appropriate here. However, since it explains the state of an upāsaka's life, the second meaning can also be considered.
Structure and Contents
In Nandī, this āgama is described as having one śrutaskandha. It has ten chapters, ten topics, ten sub-topics and innumerable-thousand words.[2] Even at present, it is contained in one śrutaskandha and has ten chapters. Division of topics and sub-topics is no longer available.
Lord Mahavira had preached two kinds of religions: 1. For the ascetics 2. For the laities. For an ascetic, he preached five Mahāvratas (Great vows) and for the laities, code of twelve aṇuvratas (small vows) was formulated. In the first chapter of this āgama text, twelve vratas have been elaborately explained. This list of vows constitutes the code of conduct for spiritual and moral life. Śramaṇopāsaka Anand accepted these vows from Lord Mahavira.
The code of conduct for an ascetic can be found in many āgamic texts, but this is the only text that deals with the code of conduct for a householder or laity. Hence, it holds a prominent place in the ethical scriptures. The objective of the composition of this text is to describe the ethics for a householder. Contextually, even the concept of destiny has been debated upon. Some events also prove the steadfastness of upāsakas in upholding spiritual faith.
According to Jayadhavalā, this text has a beautiful description of faith, vows and other eleven religious duties of upāsakas. Anand and other laities have followed the path of intensive course. Vows and pratimā are the two ways of spiritual progress for a laity. Samavāyāṅga and Nandī both contain the description of vows and pratimā. Jayadhavalā discusses only about pratimās.[3]
