Answer

In Jain Dharma, Atichar means a partial transgression or minor violation of a vow. It is not a complete breaking of the vow, but it weakens the purity of the vow.

Atichar are mainly explained for the 12 vows of a Shravak/Shravika — a Jain layperson.

These 12 vows are:

• 5 Anuvrat — small vows
• 3 Gunavrat — supporting vows
• 4 Shikshavrat — disciplinary vows

Each vow has 5 Atichar, so traditionally there are 60 Atichar in total.

Meaning of Atichar

Atichar means:

• Carelessness in observing a vow
• Going close to breaking the vow
• Violating the spirit of the vow
• Weakening the vow through negligence, greed, anger, attachment, or ignorance

A layperson should regularly reflect on these Atichar and seek forgiveness through Pratikraman.

Atichar of the 5 Anuvrat

1. Ahimsa Anuvrat — Vow of Non-violence

This vow means avoiding intentional injury to living beings.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Bandha — tying or binding living beings harshly
• Vadha — beating, hurting, or injuring living beings
• Chheda — cutting, piercing, or mutilating living beings
• Atibhara-aropana — overloading humans or animals with excessive burden
• Anna-pana-nirodha — depriving living beings of food or water

2. Satya Anuvrat — Vow of Truthfulness

This vow means avoiding harmful falsehood.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Sahasa-abhyakhyana — making false accusations without proper knowledge
• Raho-abhyakhyana — revealing another person’s private matters
• Sva-dara-mantra-bheda — disclosing confidential matters of one’s spouse or family
• Mithya-upadesha — giving false or misleading advice
• Kuta-lekha-kriya — preparing false documents, forged writings, or dishonest records

3. Achaurya / Asteya Anuvrat — Vow of Non-stealing

This vow means not taking what is not willingly given.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Stena-prayoga — encouraging or assisting theft
• Stena-ahrita-adana — receiving or buying stolen goods
• Viruddha-rajya-atikrama — violating state rules or lawful regulations for gain
• Hina-adhika-mana-unmana — using false weights and measures
• Pratirupaka-vyavahara — adulteration, imitation, or dishonest trade practices

4. Brahmacharya Anuvrat — Vow of Chastity

For laypeople, this means faithfulness to one’s spouse and restraint in sensual conduct.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Itvara-parigrihita-agamana — relations with a person temporarily connected or kept by another
• Aparigrihita-agamana — relations with an unmarried or unprotected person
• Ananga-krida — unnatural or improper sexual indulgence
• Para-vivaha-karana — arranging or encouraging improper marriages or sensual unions
• Kama-bhoga-tivra-abhilasha — intense craving for sensual pleasure

5. Aparigraha Parimana Anuvrat — Vow of Limiting Possessions

This vow means setting limits on wealth, property, and possessions.

The 5 Atichar are exceeding the limits set for:

• Kshetra — land and fields
• Vastu — houses, buildings, and property
• Hiranya-suvarna — gold, silver, money, and precious metals
• Dhana-dhanya — wealth, grain, goods, and stored resources
• Dasi-dasa, kupya — servants, animals, utensils, furniture, and other possessions

Atichar of the 3 Gunavrat

6. Digvrat — Vow of Limiting Movement by Direction

This vow limits travel in all directions.

The 5 Atichar are exceeding the limits in:

• Urdhva-dik — upward direction
• Adho-dik — downward direction
• Tiryag-dik — horizontal directions
• Kshetra-vriddhi — increasing the fixed area of movement
• Smriti-antara-dhana — forgetting the boundary one has taken

7. Bhogopabhoga Parimana Vrat — Vow of Limiting Consumable and Usable Things

This vow limits objects of enjoyment.

• Bhoga — things used once, such as food and drink
• Upabhoga — things used repeatedly, such as clothes, furniture, vehicles, etc.

The 5 Atichar traditionally include carelessness in consuming or using items involving avoidable violence or indulgence, especially:

• Using things containing living beings
• Using things connected with unnecessary violence
• Using intoxicating or harmful substances
• Using things that increase attachment and sensual desire
• Using more than the limit one has taken

8. Anartha-danda Viramana Vrat — Vow of Avoiding Needless Sinful Activities

This vow means avoiding useless actions that create sin.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Kandarpa — vulgar joking, obscene speech, or lustful talk
• Kautkuchya — improper bodily gestures or frivolous behavior
• Maukharya — excessive, careless, or harmful speech
• Asamikshya-adhikarana — careless use or handling of harmful objects
• Upabhoga-paribhoga-anarthakya — unnecessary accumulation or use of objects of enjoyment

Atichar of the 4 Shikshavrat

9. Samayik Vrat — Vow of Equanimity

Samayik means remaining in spiritual equanimity for a fixed time.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Mano-duspranidhana — impure or distracted thoughts
• Vachana-duspranidhana — improper or careless speech
• Kaya-duspranidhana — improper bodily posture or careless body movement
• Samayik-anadara — lack of respect or devotion toward Samayik
• Smriti-anupasthana — forgetfulness or lack of awareness during Samayik

10. Desavakasika Vrat — Vow of Further Limiting Movement

This vow is a temporary, stricter limitation of movement and activity.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Anayana — sending for something from outside the accepted limit
• Presya-prayoga — sending someone outside the limit
• Shabda-anupata — calling or making sounds to someone outside the limit
• Rupa-anupata — showing oneself or giving visual signals beyond the limit
• Pudgala-prakshepa — throwing objects beyond the limit

11. Paushadh Vrat — Vow of Living Like a Sadhu/Sadhvi Temporarily

In Paushadh, a layperson practices monk-like discipline for a limited time.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Apratilekhita-apramarjita-utsarga — careless excretion without properly inspecting and cleaning the place
• Apratilekhita-apramarjita-adana — taking or placing things without inspection and cleaning
• Apratilekhita-apramarjita-samstara — using bedding or seat without proper inspection and cleaning
• Anadara — lack of respect toward the vow
• Smriti-anupasthana — forgetfulness or lack of awareness during the vow

12. Atithi Samvibhag Vrat — Vow of Offering Food and Necessities to Worthy Ascetics

This vow means respectfully offering pure food and necessities to deserving Jain ascetics.

The 5 Atichar are:

• Sachitta-nikshepa — placing food on or near living substances
• Sachitta-apidhana — covering food with living substances
• Para-vyapadesha — offering something as if it belongs to someone else or through improper representation
• Matsarya — jealousy, unwillingness, or lack of generosity while giving
• Kala-atikrama — offering at an improper time or after the proper time has passed

Spiritual Understanding

Atichar teach that Jain vows are not only about outward actions. They also require:

• Awareness
• Carefulness
• Purity of intention
• Control over speech, body, and mind
• Reduction of attachment, greed, anger, pride, and deceit

A person may not fully break a vow, yet may still weaken it through negligence. Therefore, Jain Dharma gives great importance to Pratikraman, where one reflects on such faults, repents, and resolves to improve.

Takeaway

Atichar are the warning signs that show where a vow is becoming weak. By understanding and avoiding them, a Jain layperson protects the purity of vows and moves gradually toward self-control, non-violence, and liberation.