Puruşārthasiddhyupāya


Puruşārthasiddhyupāya is a major Jain text authored by Acharya Amritchandra. Acharya Amritchandra was a Digambara Acharya who lived in the tenth century. Puruşārthasiddhyupāya deals with the conduct of householder in detail. Another major Jain text that deals with householder's conduct is Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra. Puruşārthasiddhyupāya also deals extensively with the Jain concept of ahiṃsā.

Content

Like all Jain texts first sloka of Puruşārthasiddhyupāya is an invocation:

Ahimsa

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