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Panchächär (Five Codes of Conduct) Nänammi Dansanammi A Charanammi Tavammi Tahay Viriyammi Äyaranam Äyäro Ea Eso Panchahä Bhanio -- - Panchächär Sutra Knowledge, faith, conduct, austerities and vigor constitute the fivefold code of conduct Religion has two major aspects. One deals with the principles and the other with the practice. The latter constitutes the observance part of the religion. Observance of Jainism can again be divided in two broad headings. One part deals with the observance of the code and the other with the observance of restraints. Someone may be intrigued by the use of the term code in the realm of religion, and a code would mean the statutory code. It should, however, be remembered that every religion lays down the norms of behavior for their followers and many of them observe the same more scrupulously than they would observe the statutory stipulations. Such norms therefore constitute the code of conduct for the people concerned. When we talk of the Jain code, we mean the norms of observing the right conduct as laid down by the preceptors of Jainism. Right conduct is however only a part of the spiritual code. There are several other aspects like true knowledge and faith that form parts of the same code. The ultimate purpose of the right conduct is, after all, to gain liberation, which, in spiritual terms, is known as Moksha. The aspects mentioned above are also meant to further that very end and are conducive to the attainment of the said objective. In this connection, Ächärya Umäsväti stated in Tattvärtha-Sutra: ‘Samyag-darshan-jnän-chäriträni Mokshamärgah’ It means that Samyag-darshan, Samyag-jnän and Samyag-chäritra constitute the path of liberation. Samyag means right, correct, rational or proper. Darshan stands for conviction or faith, Jnän for knowledge and Chäritra for conduct. The combination of those three aspects leads to liberation. Since code, in Jain terminology, stands for Ächär, these three aspects are termed as Darshanächär, Jnänächär and Chäriträchär. They are thus the basic constituents of Jain code. There are two other aspects that pertain to observance of austerities and exerting of vigor (energy). Strictly speaking, they form parts of Chäriträchär. Being, however, very significant to Jainism, they are traditionally treated as separate parts of the code and are named as Tapächär and Viryächär. Thus, Darshanächär, Jnänächär, Chäriträchär, Tapächär and Viryächär constitute the fivefold Jain code and are together known as Panchächär. Panchächär (Five Codes of Conduct) Jnänächär Code of Acquiring Right Knowledge Darshanächär Code of Gaining Right Faith Chäriträchär Code of Acquiring Right Conduct Tapächär Code of Acquiring Right Austerities Viryächär Code of Exercising Right Vigor or Energy Darshan means faith, but it also denotes belief, conviction, outlook, and attitude and so on. Jnän means knowledge, but it also implies enlightenment. Chäritra means conduct and includes practice, behavior etc.