Alternative spellings of this word include Chhindika.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Chiṇḍikā (छिण्डिका) possibly refers to the Cchiṇḍikā (i.e., a particular channel) of the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Jainism

Jain philosophy

Source: Google Books: Insistent Life: Principles for Bioethics in the Jain Tradition

Chiṇḍikā (छिण्डिका) or “temporary lapses” refers to exceptions of Jain guidelines regarding restrictions in occupations or professions.—Jain texts also specify occupations that are forbidden to lay Jains. The canonical Upāsakadaśā (Upāsaka-daśāḥ) (in Prakrit: Uvāsagadasāo) lists fifteen forbidden occupations that are also cited by at least one Digambara author. [...] Exceptions have been made to the above guidelines, especially in Digambara texts, for a member of a warrior caste required to bear arms or a member of an agricultural caste required to till the soil. Phyllis Granoff refers to these exceptions as “temporary lapses” (chiṇḍikā)—a term seemingly present only in medieval literature—in which a Jain could knowingly violate a precept to accommodate significant outside pressures. If one could maintain right worldview during these “lapses,” the action would not be viewed as a karmic violation, nor would it prevent the ability to continue on a devout path.

context information

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General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Sambodhi vol. 19

Chiṇḍikā (छिण्डिका) refers to a “temporary lapse in religious practice”, or more detailed: “instances in which a Jain may be placed in a situation where it is temporarily necessary to capitulate to outside pressure and act in an Unjain way”, according to the article “Jainism and Prakrit in ancient and Medieval India”.—Medieval Jain accounts of the lives of the patriachs of the various sectarian lineages depict their monks as ever alive and vigilent, working tirelessly through the channels of power, which were not Jain, in order to maintain for the community the right to continue practicing their religion and preserve their distinctive and cultural identity. There exist a series of stories in some medieval texts that centre around these anxieties. The stories are about instances in which a Jain may be placed in a situation where it is temporarily necessary to capitulate to outside pressure and act in an Unjain way. These cases are all covered by a term called chiṇḍikā temporary.

Chiṇḍikā (“temporary lapse in religious practice”) seems to have been a medieval notion. The stories translated by Granoff are from the text of the commentary of Devacandra Sūri to the Mūlaśuddhiprakaraṇa, dated 1089-1090 A.D. The vast majority of medieval texts do not include these stories, nor do they seem to be aware of the concept of chiṇḍikās. The chiṇḍikās are a generous concept, for they allow that a person may experience a lapse in behaviour while maintaining chat proper attitude, and they allow that such lapses do not constitute sins in any way. The chiṇḍikās are forgiven, and in the stories those who commit them nonetheless obtain their desired goal.

The stories about chiṇḍikās indicate that there are six types of external pressure to which a Jain may be subject and which might give rise to a chiṇḍikā, a temporary lapse in religious practice:

1. being pressured by a king;
2. being pressured by his or her pears;
3. being subjected to physical pressure;
4. being made to worship a non-Jain deity by force
   or being pressured by a god or goddess to worship that god or goddess;
5. having found himself lost in the jungle alive;
6. feeling the need to worship outside the Jain faith to please his or her parents

The dominant tone of all of the chiṇḍikā stories is one tolerence and acceptance of human behaviour, and, it is that same generosity that abvove all characterizes the Jain response to religious plurality in medievl India. Respect for learning, respect for other traditions, respect for the individual who may be tempted any may lapse, are together all seen as the best way in which to maintain and preserve Jain collective indentity and integrity.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Ends with: Cchindika, Pichindika, Vicchindika, Vichindika.

Full-text: Cchindika.

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