Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (Purushartha Siddhyupaya) is a major

Jain text Jain literature (Sanskrit: जैन साहित्य) refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the ca ...

authored by Acharya

Amritchandra Amritchandra (f. 10th-century CE) was a Digambara Jain Acharya who wrote commentaries on Samayasāra called ''Atmakhyati'' and ''Samaysar Kalasha'', Pravachanasara and Pancastikayasara. He also wrote independent books of Puruşārthasiddhyupāya ...

. Acharya Amritchandra was a

Digambara Acharya Digambara Sādhu (also ''muni'', ''sādhu'') is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold ''sangha''. They are also called ''Nirgranth'' which means "one without any bonds". D ...

who lived in the tenth century (

Vikram Samvat Vikram Samvat (IAST: ''Vikrama Samvat''; abbreviated VS) or Bikram Sambat B.S. and also known as the Vikrami calendar, is a Hindu calendar historically used in the Indian subcontinent. Vikram Samvat is generally 57 years ahead of Gregorian Calend ...

). ''Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'' deals with the conduct of householder ('' sravak'') in detail. Another major Jain text that deals with householder's conduct is

Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra is a Jain text composed by Aacharya Samantbhadra Swamy (second century CE), an ''acharya'' of the Digambara sect of Jainism. Aacharya Samantbhadra Swamy was originally from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Ratnakaranda śr� ...

. ''Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'' also deals extensively with the Jain concept of

ahiṃsā Ahimsa (, IAST: ''ahiṃsā'', ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to all living beings. It is a key virtue in most Indian religions: Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.Bajpai, Shiva (2011). The History of India – F ...

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Like all Jain texts first ''sloka'' (

aphorism An aphorism (from Greek ἀφορισμός: ''aphorismos'', denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. Aphorisms are often handed down by tra ...

) of ''Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'' is an invocation:

Ahimsa

Puruşārthasiddhyupāya deals extensively with the Jaina concept of ahimsa (non-injury) particularly in reference to its observance as a minor vow (''anuvrata'') by the ''Śrāvaka''. In "Verse 43" deliberate himsa (injury) is defined as “acting under the influence of passions, an injury caused to physical or psychical vitalities” (verse 43). Acharya Amritchandra then elaborates on the observances that help the householder in abiding by his minor vow of ahimsa. Eleven verses (79-89), cautions the householder regarding certain misconstrued notions that people put forward to justify their acts of himsa.

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* * Jain texts {{Jainism-book-stub

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Ahimsa

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