Jain vrata, inJainism, a religion of India, any of the vows (vratas) that govern the activities of both monks and laymen. Themahavratas, or five “great vows,” are undertaken for life only byascetics and include vows of noninjury, abstention from lying and stealing, chastity, and renunciation of all possessions.

The laity, however, is not expected to observe these vows strictly. A layperson who has passed through the preliminary stages of spiritualdiscipline (gunasthana) may promise to observe 12 vows for a stated period of time and may renew the pledge at the completion of that time.

The first five vows,anuvratas, or partial vows (anu, “tiny,” as contrasted withmaha, “big”), are more moderate versions of themahavratas: abstinence from gross violence, gross falsehood, and gross stealing; contentment with one’s own wife; and limitation of one’s possessions. The remaining vows are the threegunavratas and the fourshiksha-vratas, which are intended to encourage observance of theanuvratas. Although the lists of these commands differ, they generally includeceasing movement or restricting the area of one’s movements; abstaining from inflicting harmful punishment; renouncing or limiting the use of objects of enjoyment and comfort; practicing equanimity; fasting in the fashion of a monk and observing diet control; giving offerings, gifts, and services to monks and others; and voluntarily dying by self-starvation (sallekhana) when the observance of vows becomes physically impossible.