Das Lakşaņa Dharma - Ten Commandments - Ten virtues

Most of us are always busy in our daily life such as business, service or whatever profession a person has adopted as the means of livelihood. We are so much absorbed in worldly life that our real cause of life is marred, neglected such as how to concentrate on spiritual development leading to good health and good behaviour, being a law abiding citizen and a good neighbour, a honest and cooperative person with a nice peaceful family life.

Our ancient philosophers, thinkers, preceptors and teachers have ordained certain commands and teachings to observe for ten days in the year. By following them we may keep our perfect health and tread on the path of righteousness thus making this world free from hatred, violence, smuggling and trafficking.

These ten observances or commands have been propounded by the great genius Umāswāmi in his Tattvārthasutra as:

Uttamakşamā mārdavārjava śauca satyasańyama tapas tyāga ākincanya brahmacaryaņi dharmaħ. lX.6
They have been named as Daslakşaņa Dharma or ten commands or ten observances. Daslakşaņa Dharma is also known as Paryuşaņa MahāParva, Pajjosavaņa, Parivasņa, Pajusaņa, Vasavaso. All Jain sects celebrate this festival; the Digambaras for ten days, the Śwetāmbaras for eight days.

These sorts of observances are celebrated all over the world this or that way. Christians, Muslims, Persians and Hindus have own peculiar ways following the righteous life of honesty, simplicity, fasting, charity and compassion. Whatever may be the way of following observances, the aim is one, perfection in life full of love, fraternity and peace all over the world.

This festival celebrated by the Jains is every year during the months of February (Magha), April (Chaitra), and September (Bhadrapada) from the fifth day of bright moon fortnight to the 14th day.

Bhadrapada (September) has been observed as the best month for accounting ones own right and wrong doings. During these days the pontiffs observe Caumāsā, theirfour months stay at one place where they meditate upon the self. The ascetics devote these days for study, teaching and imparting sermons to the devotees. The devotees get an opportunity to talk freely to the ascetics and learn from them. There are free classes on the teachings of religious books. In the sthānakas people sit, meditate upon the self and practice silence (mauna).

For these ten days every day is devoted to a particular observance and according to the day there is a discourse on a particular subject like austerity or forgiveness. Bhadon month (September) has been considered to be the best month for observing these Daslakshana days. Malli Nath Purana observes, ‘Oh! It is the best month as it inspires for religious activities.’ A number of holy events has been occurring in this month and is described in the Jain texts. The observance of the ten commands helps to develop mental, vocal and physical concentration and supports control over the five senses and four passions, anger, pride, delusion and greed, the root cause of all evils.

The day starts early in the morning with ablution of the lord. To see this ablution is a great achievement for the devotees. There is peace, serenity and complete harmony in the atmosphere. There is the discussion, discourse on Kalpasutra and other religious scriptures by the Śwetāmbaras while there is scripture reading in the morning and evening. In the evening there are religious discussions, meetings, prayers (ārati) with lamps and devotional songs and dances.

Starting on 5th day then comes the 10th day observed as Sugandhadaśami day, a great joyful, energetic and inspiring day to the children and all. People with sandal wood powder visit temples and offer the same in the fire pot signifying bad habits, bad actions, and bad ideas of a man. The inflow of Karmic matter may burn and he may achieve salvation. He may tread on right path. For most of the people it is a day of fasting or eating only once in a day (Ekasana) etc.

Anant Caturdaśi is a very important day. It falls on the 14th day. Most of the markets are closed on this day. There are worships and most of the people spend the day in observing complete silence and total fasts. People make donations to assist hospitals, animal hospitals, orphanages and other needy. From various organizations people gather in the temples for collecting donations.

After the completion of these holy ten days, Kşamāvāņi day or Forgiveness day is celebrated on the eleventh day. Apart from meeting, conferences and other functions, on Kşamāvāņi day people send individual letters to their friends, relatives asking for forgiveness. Gandhi Ji observed this principle and found peace at heart. There are special issues in the newspapers on this day. To ask for forgiveness personally is really a great action, which melts iron ill will and generates harmony.

During these days acts of charity for the poor and needy are undertaken like free eye operation camps, complete medical check up camps, wheel chairs are distributed for the handicapped. Clothes, sewing machines, food etc. free of cost are distributed. It signifies the essence of Jainism. Umā Swāmi says: “Parasparopgraho Jīvānāma” i.e. mundane souls support each other.

The following of the Ten Commandments or signs leads to spiritual progress and uplift of the self. This is called Daslakşaņa Dharma. To keep awareness or wakefulness constantly among the people, every year the last ten days of Bhādon month are celebrated as Dashlakshan festival known as Paryushana Mahaparva. These are the following:

Ten Commandments / Ten virtues	Das Lakşaņa Dharma
Supreme Forgiveness	Uttama Kshama
Supreme Humility	Uttama Mārdava
Supreme Straight forwardness	Uttama Ārjava
Supreme Contentment	Uttama Śaucha
Supreme Truth	Uttama Satya
Supreme Restraint	Uttama Samayam
Supreme Austerities	UttamaTapa
Supreme Renunciation	UttamaTyaga
Supreme Non Attachment	Uttama Akinchana
Supreme Chastity	Uttama Brahamcharya

Supreme Forgiveness - Uttama Kşamā

Forgiveness is the sign of greatness. Forgiving others is the ornament of man. All the misdeeds and misbehaviour done by others are pierced with the arrow of forgiving. It leads to peace of the mind and satisfaction. On the contrary, if instead of forgiving, we adopt anger, ill will, hatred and rough attitude, we lose our own mental balance and suffer in vain. We should forgive others and take unpleasant happenings as the result of our own inauspicious deeds. Forgiving is the ornament of the brave and the valiant. We should realise that ways preserving our mental balance, peace and harmony are better. If we take vengeance, it leads to greater harm of our own heart.

During our daily life there are various stances when we are happy, sad or angry. While angry we loose our sense of peace and may react violently. It is the worst type of moment, which may lead to any physical, mental and vocal harm. So it is better to control anger and to forgive each other.

There is one very beautiful example of Lord Mahavira. After renouncing the world, the Lord reached Ujjain where he absorbed himself in austerity in the cremation ground. The people of that place misunderstood that he was encroaching on their land. They hurled stones on him and beat him with sticks. But the lord was peaceful, silent and remained as he was in his penance. The people causing several injuries to him first were amazed and then realized that he was a mendicant. They paid obeisance to him and requested him to forgive them as they were ignorant. Realize, what would have happened if the Lord had reacted upon. To face the situation calmly, one can turn tables even in great events.

There are several examples where ignoring the wrong doings of a person may help you, the person may feel ashamed and act wisely. Lord Pārshvanāth as a child had angered a saint named Kamatha who was absorbed in a fire ritual by telling that he had offered a log in the fire, which had a snake couple in it. He felt annoyed by the child, took out the log where a hissing couple of the snakes came out. The Lord recited the Namokar Mantra to them, and the couple was reborn as Dharnendra and Padmāvati in heaven.

Now that saint Kamatha after his death became a God and one day while moving in air saw Lord Pārshvanāth in penance, threw stones at him, caused rain in torrents, caused fire thus created several hurdles. The Lord was protected by the erstwhile snake couple Dharnendra and Padmāvati. But see the greatness of the Lord, he did not bother about Kamatha ignored him, had his meditation and forgave him.

Realize at the depth of your heart, what Lord Christ said when he was crucified. Such a noble compassionate Lord, milk of human kindness flowed from his heart. He prayed God for their well being as they were ignorant about their misdeeds. A rare example of forgiveness what a noble idea you are being killed by a person and you pray for his happy life.

See the greatness of Lord Krishna one day while he was sleeping in the jungle one man Jare thinking the man to be deer, shot his arrow and it hurt Lord Krishna. When he came nearby and saw the Lord, he became afraid and lay at his feet for forgiveness. The Lord immediately forgave him and asked him to leave the place soon as Balram would not leave him when he comes. Jare touched his feet and ran away. It is the outcome of spontaneous flow of kindness from the heart of a righteous, virtuous, high souled person that the Lord forgave that person.

Supreme Humility - Uttama Mārdava

To shun pride and to keep our heart soft and tolerant is supreme humility. To discard the pride of race, family, power, wealth knowledge youth, and beauty and to be soft hearted humble, courteous and modest is the best.

Once Gandhiji went to see Rai Chand Bhai, the great philosopher and came to know that he was a shatavadhani i.e. can remember hundred things at a time after reading them and without seeing them again. Gandhiji was happy to see such a learned scholar and gave a paper on which something was written in English and French. After sometime Rai Chand Bhai repeated the same. It was a great surprise to Gandhiji but the greater surprise was that Raichand Bhai never showed any such thing as he was not proud of his scholarship. Such is the example of Mardava Dharma. But in Mahabharata, the poet says a king should act according to the need of the time. He should be harsh and soft as the occasion demands. Such a king rules over happily and he thus protects his country.

It may be applied in case of a common man as well. The base of compassion lies in humility. Following humility one can reach the step of Samyakdarshan, right belief.

Supreme Straight Forwardness - Uttama Ārjava

Simple nature, away from fraud and deception and to lead straightforward life is Arjava. Ratnakar Suri in Panchavinshatika says that a sage called upon Lord Mahavira in his Sermon Assembley (Samavasharna) and repented thus, I adopted sainthood to cheat the people and sermonized to attract people towards me and attained learning to grab their wealth by erudite knowledge. What I should say I repent now after seeing you in this assembly. Now such a person cannot be called a scholar. A scholar should be honest, free from duplicity, fraud and cheating, whatever his position may be.

In Padampurana there is beautiful example of a crooked crane. Rama and Laxman were going towards the jungle during their exile period. Rama saw a crane standing on its feet with his neck down. Rama said Laxman to see that crane in deep meditation and looked like a great ascetic. But Laxman as he was quick witted and sharp told that the crane was in search of his prey and ready to attack his meal and thus he was cheating the innocent birds. See this beautiful saying, the crooked people have something in their minds, do something different and tell totally different from their actions but the righteous persons are different whatever they think, they do and whatever they act, they tell, ‘Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahatmnan.’

Supreme Contentment - Uttam Śaucha

To be free from greed i.e. and internal insatiably or external purity is contentment. Greed breeds all sins. Greed has no limits and desire for more is insatiable and a man indulges in immoral and unethical activities for hoarding and grabbing things. Thus a greedy person commits his own downfall. Therefore one must stay away from greed.

Mahabharata says, ‘Greed is monstrous alligator and leads a man towards sin.’ (Eko lobho mahagraho lobhita papani pravartate).

There is no power on earth that can a save a greedy from his down fall (Lobha moha smavcshtam na daivam trayatre naram). Mental faculty away from avarice and greed is the right path for solace and serenity otherwise a man goes downwards decay. External purity in absence of internal purity is hollow.

Even if one takes bath in the holy river Ganges, Pushkar and at famous teerth places (religious places), it will not make him pure if he is greedy (gangasagarapushakaradishu, Sada tirtheshu Sarveshvapi Snatasyapi na jayate prayo vishudhipara).

See what Lord Krishna says about the purity of a person. One day Pandavas approached Lord Krishna and requested him to accompany them to the Ganges for a bath. In spite of repeated requests, Lord Krishna refused but on being insisted the Lord gave his hollowed gourd (Tumbi) as his representative. When the people at the Ganges came to know that this Tumbi belonged to the Lord, they touched it, prayed before it, thinking it to be Lord Krishna himself. When the Pandavas came back and told the Lord that his Tumbi had been bathed thousand times by the people, the Lord was amazed. He got cut into pieces and gave it to the people to eat, but everyone felt uneasy, had vomiting because the inner part of it was rotten. Now the Lord told them to realize that external bath would not make you great. Internal purity is a must. So we must be true to ourselves away from greed, fraud and dishonesty. Internal purity is important instead of physical embellishment, which reduces greed and inspires for righteousness.

Supreme Truth - Uttam Satya

Truth means fearless description of what one sees, hears or feels. Once a person tells a lie, he has to utter numerous lies to support his first false statement. Such a person is afraid and his wisdom is shattered and wavering. But one who takes the true course is afraid of none. He is free from worry and is full of self-confidence. Truth should be attractive and beneficial.

Unpleasant truth for the benefit of others is good but pleasant truth for the harm of others is bad. Sometimes, when from speaking the truth, there is fear of violence, better to lie is desirable. Wherever truth appears unpleasant, it should be explained in such a way that it appears pleasant and he does not take it otherwise.

Truth and non-violence are co-related to each other. Truth is God. The whole world rests on the anchor of truth. The four passions (Kashayas) anger, pride, maya (delusion) and greed are to be controlled. Greed may lead to speaking of untruth. So speaking truth may save a person from greed, for greedy person will resort to tell lie to get and amass more and more wealth or whatever may be the object.

Uttarpurana gives a beautiful story of a person Satyaghosha, who always kept a knife in his thread chain wearing in his neck. Whenever asked he would say that he always spoke the truth and if ever he spoke the untruth he would cut his tongue with the knife. Now see the greed of Satyaghosha. His fast friend came and kept his jewellery box with him as he was going out of station for six months. But when he came back and asked for the ornament box, he asked him to dig and collect from the place where he put them. There was nothing. The friend went to the king. The king ordered Satyaghosha to surrender his jewellery before the king. The king mixed some royal jewels in the box and asked the victim to take his ornaments. This man immediately collected his ornaments. Satyaghosha accepted his crime. Satyaghosha had committed breach of faith only for wealth. What we can say about this truth upholder Satyaghosha?

• It may be concluded that only truth wins and not the lie (Satyameva Jayate Nanrtam).
• A truthful person is always happy and peaceful (Rtasya Gopa Dabhav).
• May there be always truth in my heart (Akuti Satya Manso Meatsu).

Supreme Restraint - Uttama Samyam

Restriction is to control over desires, which go on and go on and never are satisfied. But a person who keeps his mundane carnal desires under control remains always contented. A self-disciplined person devoid of worldly pleasures is not over powered by anger, pride and deception. Without discipline, it is useless to wish for attainment of good traits.

Restraint is the base for all the human activities of a person. In vehicles there are brakes to check the speed. In the same way there is restraint to control over mental, vocal and physical activities,. These three activities are known as (Kayavagng manah Karmyogha). Our five senses take a person to different destinations, as we are slaves of these senses. Control over the senses is the greatest victory of a person. Even the taste of one sense can destroy a person. A deer is killed for his love to music; a cobra is caught for his interest in musical sound, an elephant due to his pleasure in physical touching, fish due to its taste and the black bee for its addiction to smell. Not to speak of a person addicted to the taste of all the senses.

There is always boundary to protect the field, the house. The same way there must be restraint on the activities of a person. Internal and external restraint always helps people in life. Antarang and Bahiranga restraint both constitute glorious virtues to a person. Rise in worldly progress and spiritual development make a righteous person. He is an uncrowned king with highest perfection in life.

The great scholar Banarasi Das in his Nataka Samaysara says, “Gyanakala jinake ghata jagi, ve jagmahi sahaja viragi, gyani Magana vishaya sukhamahi, yaha viparita sambhave nahi”, those people who have developed the highest knowledge of restraint in their hearts can easily tread over the path of detachment (Vairagya) and if otherwise he makes merry in sensual pleasures he is not to be called high souled. It means he is deceiving the people in his deceitful garb of restraint.

Gandhiji went to England to participate in a Round Table Conference. There he met political dignitaries. Gandhiji was asked to tell the qualities of a good leader. Gandhiji mentioned self-control and to remember God at every step.

Pandit Todar Mal says, ‘To follow non-violence, truth, non-theft, celibacy, non-attachment and to control anger, pride, maya and greed is itself observance of restraint - Sanyam.’

Dayanta says, ‘Always control the five senses, keep properly the restraint jewel for there are thieves in the forms of various pleasures (Kaya Chhanan Pratipal, Panchendriya Mana Vasha Karo, Sanyama Ratna Samahal Vishaya Chora Bahu Phirata Hain).’

Supreme Austerities - Uttama Tapa

Uttam Tapa means fasting, abstinence, prayers, devotion, and meditation. Through these enlightening one’s soul, and thorough control of senses and desires to benefit the spiritual self, get the release himself from the shackles of bondage.

Everyone should, according to his physical capacity, slowly practise austerity Tapa and renunciation (Tyaga) and endeavour to take himself higher. It is not proper to take our self near death through meaningless starvation because the human body is the vehicle (Sadhan) to religious uplift (Dharm Sadhan) and spiritual betterment.

Austerity is a powerful missile to destroy evils like anger, greed etc. but as the handling of the missile requires perfect training and mental concentration so the austerity has its way in controlling one-self. One is aware of the fact that the physical, mental and vocal activities of a person cause the inflow of karmic matter. This activity is known as yoga. Yoga Vasishtha says, ‘Yogah Chittavrtti Nirodhah’ i.e. controlling the five senses is yoga.

Now how the influx of Karmic matter may be destroyed so Uma Swami says, Tapasa Nirjara Cha. Austerities cause the shedding of Karmic matter and also the stoppage of Karmic flow. Samyagyoganigrahoguptih. Gupti prevention is proper control (Nigraha) over mind, speech and body. There are twelve kind of Tapas:

• Six external austerities
• Six internal austerities

Six External Austerities
Anshan	To avoid food and be away from Kashayas anger, pride, maya and greed.
Unoda	To take less food than you require.
Vrttiparisankhyana	To decide to take limited things in lunch.
Rasaparityaga	To avoid any juicy thing.
Kayaklesha	To avoid physical pleasures and physical embellishments.
Viviktashayyasana	To take only one posture for meditation.

Six Internal Austerities
Prayashchita	To repent previous mistakes.
Vinaya	To pay respect to the holy ones.
Vaiyavrata	To serve the high-souled religious sages.
Svadhyaya	To read the scriptures.
Vyuttsarga	To renounce internal and external attachments.
Dhyana	To concentrate on the self.

Swami Samantbhadra says, ‘Vishyashavashatito Nirarambhoaprigraha,’ i.e. to control over sensual pleasures and shun attachment should be the aim of a person. In Adipurana austerity is the greatest power, Tapah Shakti Raho Para.

Supreme Renunciation - Uttama Tyaga

It implies avoiding all evil practices, adoption of renunciation and cooperation with others because individual and society are complementary to each other. Progress of the society ensures progress of the individual.

‘Parasparopgraho Jivanam’. This will be possible only when a person shares his material resources with others and is willing to help others. Renunciation leads to peace and general progress. The affluent person ought to use his possessions for the progress and prosperity of the society. Consuming ones possession himself is neither good for oneself nor for society. Selfish motive may lead to anarchy.

Jinasenacharya the great preceptor thinks renunciation the best means of peace and happiness in the world, which leads to co-existence in the world. Even the richest cannot enjoy serenity in life, if he does not share his prosperity with his financially weaker brethren. In the Atharvaveda there is the prayer, ‘May the people not call us miser or hard fisted (Ma ma vuchann radhasam anasah).’ Again the same idea is repeated in the Rgveda, ‘One who eats himself, eats only the sin (Kevalagho bhavati kevaladi).’

Today there is globalisation and the world has become very small. Means of communications have added to easy access to any place. There are unfortunate natural calamities, earthquakes, and fire. At such a time all the nations rush for immediate assistance. If the poor nations suffer due to famine and scarcity it is imperative on the part of the rich nations to support the weeping hungry children. There may be rushed food, medicines, clothes and other necessary life equipments.

There must be some provision for charity in your earning may be of any type cash or kind. Jain preceptors have enunciated four kinds of charities, which may be delivered to the needy:

One may part any of these four or all the four as the case may be.

Tyaga eko gunha shlaghyah, Kimanyai guna rashibhi, Tyagajjagati pujyante, Pashupashanapapah (Rayansara)
Renunciation is supreme in comparison to other virtues. For their deliverance of good things even animals, stones and trees are worshipped.

Food - Aharadāna

One may give food for the poor, which means one can go to any charity home, orphanage, old age house and can pay for their food arrangements. There are several charity homes in India, run on social assistance. There are animal shelters and bird’s hospitals to feed and treat them. I think that Mother Teresa proved herself the goddess on earth in doing charitable work to the destitute of the world. There are several poor nations deserving help from the wealthy nations.

Knowledge - Vidyadāna

If one cannot financially support, one can teach someone or donate books to needy students. If one member of a family is given perfect education, when he has grown up he will help others. Thus a family becomes self-supporting. When there was no printing press, one lady in South India wrote herself and donated one thousand scriptures to different temples and scholars. There had been a tradition of learning and writing that is why we have our legacy in manuscripts.

Medicine - Oshadhidāna

Medical care of the poor can be taken in any form. These days there are free medical check ups. Almost all the hospitals and famous surgeons arrange for operations and other things. In Jaipur, there are charity homes for handicapped and polio-affected people.

Fearlessness - Abhayadāna
 
It is but natural for a person to be worried about himself for food, health and education. One is always under the fear of uncertainty. When the arrangement for a living being is made, he leads a fearless life and his mind works properly. We should remember that the state alone couldn’t do all the welfare. Individuals, philanthropists, munificent and compassionate people have done more all over the world than the government. So keep in mind to do always a charitable work and deliver any good to the needy.

Non-Attachment - Uttama Akinchan

Akinchana means‘I’, I am something, I am great, I am the doer, this sort of pride brings the downfall of a person. One must shun hoarding and should develop thinking that nothing belongs to him and nothing is needed. There should be no pleasure in possessions and no pain in its loss. Thus in this position one can contemplate upon the self with mental peace.

Gita says, ‘It is the foolishness of a person that he thinks that he is the doer of this thing’ (Ahankara vimudhata kartaahomti manyate). When a man has destroyed his pride, he becomes a saint and a great thinker and his path towards liberation becomes perfect. The great Indian king Harsha, after five years donated his wealth and even passed over his ornaments and clothes. Donations exalt a person and bring peace in the world.

Pride is of different kinds, public position, wealth, scholarship, beauty, relatives, high family status and so on. One may be proud of even small things. But all these things are meant for hatred, disputes and social evils. For a proper co-existence we must not be falsely proud or have anything wrong with anyone.

Chamund Raya, the great commander-in-chief got built the great beautiful statue of Lord Bahubali. He was the happiest person to see this biggest statue in the world. When there was the Mahamastakabhishekha (the great ablution) of this statue, the water would not flow down from head to chest. Thousands of jars were poured upon. Why? Chamund Raya had become conceited and thought that he was the builder of this statue. All the efforts proved in vain.

Then appeared an old lady with a small earthen pot, but no one would allow her to anoint the lord. But on repeated requests she was allowed to do the Prakshal of the statue. The water came down like a ware fall. Here it was the true desire of the old lady that the divine power helped her.

Supreme Celibacy - Uttama Brahmacharya

Celibacy occupies a great significant and prominent place in people’s life. This penance protects one’s body and develops one’s soul. Such person can lead family life properly. Husband and wife should be satisfied and contented with each other and should have good reciprocal regard. Celibacy makes one daring, fearless, happy and well intended.

Apart from the nine commands celibacy has been given as the tenth command to be observed on all the ten days of Parsyushan and then there must be restrictions according to own itself. It may be Ashtami Chaturdashi (8th and 14th days of the month). To indulge in extra sexual affairs may lead to diseases and fear at the heart. Celibacy has been added to the four vratas non-violence, truth, non-stealing, and non-attachment. Kunda Kunda acharya says,

Taha vi ya sachche date bamhe, Aprigmahattne cheva
Kirdi ajjhavasanam jam, Tena dubajjhade punnamtt

One who observes and follows these five vratas becomes meritorious and leads a happy life. In case of a householder these five vratas are known as Anuvratas. They are given a sort of relaxation in observing them. The pontiffs have to follow strictly all the five vratas.

If one follows celibacy says Yogashastra,

Chitrayushah susansthana, Diradhasamhsanna narah
Tejasvino mahavirya, Bhaveyurbrahmacharyatah

One gets longevity, able-bodied, health becomes solid, valiant and one develops to a thoughtful person.

See the importance of celibacy says Bhartrihari,

Vyalo malyaguayate, Virharasah Piyushavarshayate
Yasyangeakhilaloka vallabhamatam, ShilamSamunmilitam

A serpent can turn into a garland poison may turn into nectar. One who is observing celibacy enjoys the greatest happiness of life.

Husband and wife they have a very important relation of faith to each other and devotion to each other in their happiness and sorrows. If the sanctity of this relation is violated it is a great sin. A man should regard other women as mother, sister, and daughter according to their age.

Similarly a woman should regard other men as father, brother, son according to their age. Rāvana the greatest scholar of the world kidnapped Sitā though he had several wives in his harem but only due to being bewitched by her beauty. The result was a great battle, killings of several people, destruction of a kingdom and a bad name until today.

Thus the observance of these ten commandments inspires to take a right path in life and thus become a law abiding good citizen standing for cooperation and fraternity with the whole world.