Achourya facts for kids

Achourya (Sanskrit: अचौर्यः, IAST: Acauryaḥ) or Asteya (Sanskrit: अस्तेय; IAST: Asteya) is a Sanskrit word meaning "non-stealing." It is an important virtue in both Hinduism and Jainism. Practicing asteya means you should not steal. It also means you should not even think about stealing. This applies to your actions, what you say, and your thoughts.

Asteya is one of the five main promises or vows in Hinduism and Jainism. It is also one of ten ways to show self-control in Indian philosophy.

What Does Asteya Mean?

The word "asteya" comes from Sanskrit. The part "a" means "non-" or "not." The part "steya" means "the act of stealing." So, asteya simply means "not stealing."

Asteya in Jainism

In Jainism, asteya is one of five important vows. Everyone, including householders and monks, tries to follow these vows.

Jain texts explain what breaks this vow. These include:

• Asking someone else to steal.
• Taking things that you know were stolen.
• Buying things for a much lower price than they are worth, especially if you know something is wrong.
• Using fake weights or measures to cheat people.
• Selling fake or imitation goods as if they were real.

For example, if you encourage someone to steal, that breaks the vow. If you buy stolen goods, even if you didn't help steal them, that's also a problem. Trying to get valuable items too cheaply, or using false scales to trick others, are also against asteya. Selling fake items like imitation gold or diamonds is another way to break this promise.

Asteya in Hinduism

Hindu texts describe asteya as "not taking valuable things from another person without permission." This applies to your actions, words, and thoughts. It is a widely discussed virtue in Hindu teachings about good behavior.

For example, in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Asteya is listed as the third yama. Yamas are like rules for how to behave. The five Yamas are:

• ahimsa (not harming others)
• satya (being truthful)
• brahmacharya (being pure in feelings and actions)
• aparigraha (not being too possessive)
• Asteya (not stealing)

These five Yamas are important "don'ts" in Hinduism. They help people live a good and virtuous life.

Why Asteya is Important

Practicing Asteya means more than just "not stealing." It also means you should not cheat. You should not unfairly trick others to get what you want. This virtue asks that you don't encourage cheating, even through what you say or write. You should not even wish to cheat in your thoughts.

The idea of asteya comes from understanding that taking things unfairly shows a lack of kindness for others. It also shows a lack of belief in yourself. If you steal, it might mean you don't trust your own ability to earn or create things. Stealing from others can also stop you from developing your own skills.

Hindu teachings suggest that stealing, planning to steal, or wanting to steal comes from bad greed (lobha). It can also come from being too focused on material things (moha). Or it can come from bad anger (krodha).

Mahatma Gandhi believed that asteya was very important. He thought it was key for people to have the right to their property without fear. Gandhi saw stealing as a form of violence against another person. So, asteya is not just about physically taking something. It also includes wanting to steal or tricking someone to get their things. Even constantly taking advantage of weaker people is a form of "asteya" in your thoughts.

Related Ideas

Dāna is another important concept in Hinduism. It means giving to someone who deserves it, without expecting anything back. This is the opposite of stealing. Giving to others (dāna) helps support the practice of not stealing (asteya).

Asteya vs. Aparigraha

Asteya and aparigraha are both important virtues in Hinduism and Jainism. They both relate to how people interact with the material world. However, they are different ideas.

• Asteya means not stealing. It means not wanting to take what belongs to someone else. This applies to actions, words, and thoughts.
• Aparigraha means not being too attached to your own things. It also means not accepting gifts that are not proper. And it means not being too greedy or wanting too much.

Aparigraha is about not being greedy. The word Graham means where you stand. Pari means the limit. When you go beyond your limit, even in your thoughts, that is greed. It's like taking something unfairly or manipulating a situation. This idea applies to physical things and also to ideas. Wanting something that rightfully belongs to others, even just in your thoughts, is seen as a problem.