Pristine Jainism : Five Vows

For every Jain whether laity (house holder) or recluse (saint), observance of five basic vows is a must and a prerequisite. Five vows are:

1. Nonviolence
   
2. Truth
   
3. Non stealing
   
4. Non hoarding and non-consumerism
   
5. Celibacy.

These vows are antidote to five main sins viz.

1. Violence
   
2. Falsehood
   
3. Theft
   
4. Hoarding and consumerism
   
5. Sexual indulgence.

हिंसा नृतस्ते या ब्रह्म परिग्रहेभ्योविरतिर्व्रतं॥1॥
[Uma Swami's Tatwarth Sutra, Chapter 7]

There is difference of degree and not of kind in the practice by householders and saints. There are some relaxations for house holders whereas for saints the practice of vows is rigorous without any relaxation. Accordingly these are defined as Anuvratas (Milder form) for householders and Mahavratas (Rigorous form) for saints. Acharya Samantbhadra has defined Anuvratas in treatise Ratnakarand Shravakachar in the following stanza;

प्राणातिपात वितथ-व्यवहार स्तेय काम मूर्छेभ्यः।
स्थूलेभ्यः पापेभ्यो, व्युपरमणुव्रत भवति॥52॥

It means that a house holder observing five vows should not commit five sins namely violence, falsehood, theft, hoarding, reckless consumption of material things and indulgence in sex as much as possible and intentionally. For example a person is walking, lifting and placing things and doing any activity viz business, cultivation etc. carefully with all possible caution and still some harm is done to any life form because a householder cannot abnegate these totally. If some rogue or barbarian attacks him, his family property or religious places he has to fight and in the process if attacker is killed, such violence cannot be avoided by householder. Rishabhadeva taught six professions to householders for livelihood and these are warfare (Asi), writing skills (Masi), agriculture (Krishi), knowledge (Vidya), business (Vanijya), and art (Shilp). It is important to note that warfare is first in priority. History is replete with glories of innumerable Jain warriors. It is most unfortunate that in course of time Jains have forgotten the very necessity of defence and are at the mercy of others for protection. Jains more often than not remain mute spectators of theft of idols from temples, encroachments and destruction of religious complexes, atrocities on self, family and community. Numerous Jain temples have been converted into places of worship of other sects. It is high time Jains recollect the preachings of first enlightened one (Tirthankara), Rishabhdeo who gave first priority to warfare expertise (Asi). Pardoning is quality for brave and strong and not for cowards and weaklings.

क्षमा वीरस्य भूषणं

However, it is important to understand that non-violence is the basic creed in Jainism. A true Jain will not kill, may cause slightest harm to any life form intentionally or negligently. There is a famous anecdote that a king asked a Jain to just kill an ant and gradually increased the reward for obeying him from few thousands to lakhs and crores and offered even half of his kingdom but the true Jain did not budge from his vow of non­violence.

The observance of five vows for saints is of more rigorous nature. They practise the vows with utmost care and caution. They will not react even in self-defence and patiently bear with atrocities of all forms. They will not even displace or disturb any life form from their abode. They will leave the place even though they are occupying it earlier if someone else wants it. Their observance of vows is therefore termed 'Mahavratas'. Samantbhadrachara in Ratnakarand Shravakachar describes mahavratas in the following stanza:

पञ्चानां पापानां, हिंसादीनां मनोवचः कायैः।
कृत कारितानुमोदै-स्त्यागस्तु महाव्रतः महतां॥7॥
(Total abnegation from five sins in thought, speech, act by self or through others and even acquiescence).