Dear Sadharmik brothers and sisters,

Jai Jinendra!

🙏

Paryushan/Das Lakshana Parva

Day 4: Three Jewels of Jainism

Today, we will learn about the second Jewel of Jainism, Right knowledge (Samyak Jnana).

Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnan) comes with the right perception, right understanding, right discrimination, and knowing the true doctrine. The knowledge that is gained through external agencies is liable to error whereas knowledge gained directly through the faculties of the soul cannot be wrong. The true test of right knowledge lies in its ability to help us in getting what is good for us and in avoiding what is sinful. Right knowledge is useful and reliable because it is a true representation of what is.

Jainism acknowledges eight types of knowledge. Of them, five constitute right knowledge. They are Mati (mental knowledge), Sruti (acquired knowledge), Avadhi (distant knowledge), Manahparyaya (paranormal knowledge), and Kevala (absolute knowledge). The remaining three types of knowledge constitute false knowledge (Mithya jnan). They are invalid knowledge, erroneous knowledge, and wrong knowledge.

Let’s understand Mati, Sruti, and Avadhi Jnan.

Mati jnana (mental knowledge) is ordinary perception obtained through the normal faculties of the mind such as perception, cognition, analysis, and memory. It is further divided into Smriti (Remembrance), Pratyabhijna or Samjna (Recognition), Curita or Tarka (Inductive logic), and Abhinibodha or Anumana (Deductive logic). According to another classification, it is divided into Upalabdhi (end result), Bhavana (Feelings and Emotion), and Upayoga (Usefulness). Mati jnana comes to us mainly through the sense organs (Indriyas). So sensory knowledge always precedes mental knowledge.

Sruti jnana is verbal and nonverbal knowledge acquired through signs, symbols, and words. Studying and hearing are the usual methods of obtaining Srutijnana. While Mati jnana is acquired through primary contact Sruti jnana is acquired through secondary contact or another source. Srutijnana is of four types depending upon how it is acquired: labdhi (contact), bhavana (attention), upayoga (utility), and naya (perspective). The difference between Sruti and Mati is very subtle because in the case of sruti jnana also perception, cognition, and understanding play an important role. Mati jnana is the raw material from which comes Srutijnana as a finished product. The former is based on personal experiences and perceptions while the latter is based on other people's knowledge and experiences that have been borrowed through communication.

Avadhi jnana is clairvoyance or knowledge of distant and remote things acquired through higher faculties, without the use of the senses or study. It comes either from birth (bhava) because of previous karma or from virtues (gunas) acquired by doing good karma and destroying bad karma.

Tomorrow we will learn Manahparyaya and Kevala Knowledge under the second jewel, Right knowledge.

10 Dreams Seen by Mahavir Swami and Its Meaning

Listen to the interesting incident of Mahavir Swami’s life which reminds us that no one can escape from the Karma he/she did.

Paryushan Recipe by Neha Deepak Shah

RICE PANOLI

Ingredients

• 1 cup fine rice flour 2 tbsp besan
• 1/3 cup curd
• Warm water Nearly 3⁄4 cup water 1 tbsp oil
• 1⁄4 tsp turmeric
• 1⁄4 tsp black salt
• 1⁄4 tsp Jeera
• 1⁄4 tsp crushed black pepper 1⁄4 tsp chilli flakes
• 2 pinches of saunth powder 2 pinches of soda
• 1⁄2 tsp eno

Method

1. Mix the rice flour, besan with yogurt, turmeric, warm water and keep it aside for 1 hour. Make sure the batter is not too thin. After 1 hour, grind the batter to ensure that it is smooth and fine. This is important because a lot of times the rice flour is slightly coarse and will make sure the final texture is good.
2. To this, mix soda, eno, oil, all the spices and keep aside for another 2 hours.
3. Your Batter is ready now. Whisk it well to make sure it is smooth.
4. You will need a saucepan (Patila/bhagona with a thali-like plate which can completely cover and fit on top. It is best if you keep 2 or 3 plates handy. Heat about 2 cups of water in the pan and it should be bubbling hot. Take a covering thali and grease it. Spread the batter on it and place it on the bubbling pan of water. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Scrape it off using a spatula and serve immediately.
5. Serve this with a curd chutney or even the harissa chutney. You can serve this with Imli chutney too. You can also add ghee to the batter to enhance the flavor.
6. For moong dal Panoli, replace 1⁄2 cup rice with 1⁄2 cup-soaked moong dal. You can soak and grind the moong dal to make a batter and follow the same procedure.