The Śrāvaka Saṃbodha: Recasting Śrāvakācāra for Contemporary Lay Jains

Abstract The article examines Śrāvaka Saṃbodha ( ŚrS ), the final literary work of Ācārya Tulasī (1914–1997), a prominent Śvetāmbara Terāpantha mendicant leader. This work delineates the qualities ( guṇas ) of lay disciples and offers didactic instructions on the conduct of ideal householders, encapsulating the principles of the “Jain way of life.” To situate Śrāvaka Saṃbodha within the broader trajectory of Jain lay ethics, the article contextualizes it in relation to the earlier śrāvakācāra (householder manuals) genre. It argues that Tulasī draws not only from his deep traditional knowledge of classical Jain literature, but also from eight decades of religious practice and field experience. In doing so, he reformulates established principles to address contemporary social realities, presenting the ŚrS as a modern śrāvakācāra . By highlighting the distinctive features of this contemporary treatise, the article contributes to scholarly conversations on the role of vernacular literature in the preservation and transmission of Jain traditions.