Chedasutra, Chedasūtra, Cheda-sutra: 1 definition

Introduction:

Chedasutra means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Chhedasutra.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Chedasutra in Jainism glossary
Source: JAINpedia: Glossary

Chedasūtra (छेदसूत्र) (in Sanskrit), or its Prakrit form Cheyasutta, is the name of a group of texts in the Śvetāmbara canon. All the texts deal with the rules mendicants should follow in monastic life and with their technicalities. The ideal to which mendicants aspire is the perfect ascetic, but in practice there are many areas where monks and nuns may make errors. The Chedasūtras establish: 1) an exhaustive map of lapses in behaviour; 2) details of the effects of these breaches; 3) ways to compensate for errors through atonements.

The Chedasūtras reflect a stage in mendicant lifestyle where most monks and nuns live within a monastic unit–gaṇa–with fellow-mendicants. The monastic rules thus define: 1) an individual’s behaviour in relation with other mendicants; 2) the group’s behaviour considered against other mendicant groups and wider society, represented by Jain lay men, kings and so on.

General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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