Philosophy In Jain Agams: Practice of Dhuta (Shaking off)

'Dhuta' was a popular word in the ancient Indian tradition of spiritual practice and it had a reputed status in all the Indian religions. It has also been mentioned in the ancient text like Ācārāṅga of Jain tradition.^[1] There is a description of thirteen types of 'dhuta'in 'Visuddhimagga', a famous scripture in the Buddhist religion.^[2] Its reference is also found in the Bhāgavata.^[3] The base of 'Avadhuta tradition' can be found in 'dhutavāda'. This is the opinion of Acharya Mahapragya.^[4]

Meaning of 'dhuta' is - quivering or separation. This doctrine embodies the principles of the wearing off the karmas. The causes and conditions that lead to the wearing off of karma are called the ways of dhuta which means shaking off.^[5] Dhuta is a method of achieving the goal. For the practice of self restraint and salvation, detachment and shunning off of karma is compulsory. Attachment and karma both are strong means to derail a spiritual practitioner from his spiritual track, so their shunning off and removal is recommended. Formation of the physical body is because of the subtle body. If the subtle body is destroyed then the gross body will be destroyed automatically. The great sage, practising the dhutācāra (discipline of shaking the karma body) visualizes only the present so he purges his karma body and destroys it.^[6]

At the time of Ācāraṅga, the practice of dhutavāda was very much prevalent. It can be realized from the sixth chapter of Ācāraṅga and the sūtras related to 'dhuta' found at various places. In the dhutavāda chapter, niryukti of Ācāraṅga, where the five dhutas are described as follows^[7] -

1. Nijaka dhuta - Shaking off of the attachment towards one's own relatives.
2. Karma dhuta - Shaking off of the karmic material bodies.
3. Sarīra-upakaraṇa dhuta - Shaking off of the attachment towards the body and the outfits.
4. Gaurava dhuta - Shaking off of the pride with respect to the supernatural powers, pleasurable and comfortable feelings.
5. Upasarga dhuta - Shaking off of the favourable and unfavourable feelings.

The sense of attachment and possessiveness is the main cause of karmic bondage. The body, the outfit and the near and dear ones nourish the sense of attachment. In essence, the aim of the practice of shaking off is the renunciation of relationships with things that nourish the sense of attachment. The achievement of renunciation of the sense of attachment is possible only by an sublime type of knowledge, and that is the knowledge of the self. People devoid of self-realization feel depressed in spirit. The practice of shaking off leads to the awakening of the self. In the perfect state of self-realization, the attachment towards the body is destroyed and life force grows strong.^[8]

Many varieties of austerities have been prescribed which effect shaking off or dissociation of karma. It follows from these descriptions that where there is a practice of special forbearance, lightness and austerity, there occurs shaking off of karma.

At the time of renunciation a aspirant's relatives out of attachment try to stop them from becoming an ascetic. When he exerts for the purpose of resolution for spiritual life, his relatives begin to lament or bewail. They cry and weep, but the person, engaged in spiritual exertion does not go to the shelter of his relatives, on hearing their bewailing. This renouncement of relatives is dhuta.^[9]