Shravak 36 kartavya (duties of a Jain lay follower)

Here is a commonly cited set of 36 duties that many Shravaks observe, after practice of pravritti and vrata. These come from traditional Shravakachar guidance and related texts; some points may vary slightly between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions, but the core spirit remains the same: self-purification, right conduct, and service to Tirthankar, guru, and the Jain community.

• 1. Follow the instruction of Jineshvara (Tirthankar) and accept his authority.
• 2. Give up falsehood (mityatva) and cultivate truth.
• 3. Maintain samyak darshan (proper faith) and right understanding.
• 4–9. Daily engagement in six essential duties (pratayaksha of daily discipline) — these are seen as the core routine for spiritual progress.
• 10. Observe Paushad (periodic vow to live with discipline, often on holy days).
• 11. Give charity (daan) and practice dharma-related acts of merit.
• 12. Uphold Shiyal (observance of proper conduct and discipline).
• 13. Practice penance (tapas).
• 14. Maintain exalted and pure intention.
• 15. Swadhyaya (self-study of Jain scriptures).
• 16. Repetition of the Navkar mantra (Namokar Mantra).
• 17. Practice kindness and serve others (paropakar).
• 18. Follow jainikal Yajna or special vows (jain vow observance norms).
• 19. Worship Jineshvara (Tirthankar) through proper puja.
• 20. Recite praise or stavan of Jineshvara.
• 21. Offer respectful salutations to Guru (Guru bhakti) and gurus.
• 22. Show affection and respect to co-religionists (dharmika) and fellow lay followers.
• 23. Keep personal and social conduct pure (sudhi in behavior).
• 24. Participate in religious processions or auspicious journeys (rath yatra, temple/excursion).
• 25. Visit tirthas (teerth yatra) as appropriate.
• 26. Remain calm and controlled (shanti) in all circumstances.
• 27. Practice vivek (discrimination between right and wrong) in daily life.
• 28. Practice self-control and modesty (savar) in speech and actions.
• 29. Observe rules about speech and language (bhasha-samiti).
• 30. Show compassion to all living beings (jiva daya).
• 31. Maintain association with pious persons (dharmik sangh) and the sangh community.
• 32. Practice sense-control of the senses (indriya ni niyam).
• 33. Cultivate the longing to adopt and maintain proper conduct (charitra-śhānti).
• 34. Show great respect to the fourfold Jain order (the fourfold assembly or sampatti of the sangh).
• 35. Write or record religious texts (books or notes) to support learning.
• 36. Reflect and think on places of pilgrimage and their spiritual significance (teerth sthaan ki prabhavana).

Note on sources and tradition

• The above outline reflects a commonly cited enumeration found in traditional Shravakachar compilations and modern summaries. There can be small wording differences between Digambar and Shwetambar manuals, but the underlying aims are the same: samyak-darshan, samyak-gnan, and samyak-charitra in daily life, with annual and special vows reinforcing discipline.
• For deeper study, texts such as Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, Upasak Dasang Sutra and related Shravakachar literature are the primary authorities cited in Jain tradition.

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