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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

[[File:Twenty-two vows of Buddhism by Dr. Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi.jpg|thumb|Inscription of 22 vows at [[Deekshabhoomi]], Nagpur]]

The '''Twenty-two vows''' or '''twenty-two pledges''' are the 22 Buddhist vows administered by '''[[B. R. Ambedkar]]''', the [[Dalit Buddhist movement|revivalist of Buddhism in India]], to his followers. On converting to [[Buddhism]], Ambedkar made 22 vows, and asked his 600,000 supporters to do the same.{{sfn|Omvedt|2003|pp=261–262}} After receiving [[Buddhist initiation ritual|lay ordination]], Ambedkar gave ''[[dharma|dhamma]] diksha'' to his followers. The ceremony included 22 vows administered to all new converts after [[Three Jewels]] and [[Five Precepts]]. On 14 October 1956 at [[Nagpur]], Ambedkar performed another mass religious conversion ceremony at [[Chandrapur]].<ref name="Vajpeyi 2015">{{cite web | last=Vajpeyi | first=Ananya | title=Comment article from Ananya Vajpeyi: Owning Ambedkar sans his views | website=The Hindu | date=27 August 2015 | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-article-from-ananya-vajpeyi-owning-ambedkar-sans-his-views/article7583272.ece | access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="dna 2015">{{cite web | title= Nagpur is where Dr BR Ambedkar accepted Buddhism on October 14, 1956, along with several followers. | website=dna | date=8 October 2015 | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-gautam-buddha-s-ashes-to-travel-from-sri-lanka-to-maharashtra-next-week-2132594 | access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>

It is believed by [[Navayana|Ambedkarite Buddhists]] that these vows are the guidelines of the social revolution that motivates human instincts. These vows demonstrate both the [[social movement]] aspect of [[Navayana Buddhism]], and demonstrate its core deviation from earlier [[Schools of Buddhism|sects of Buddhism]]. In India, these vows are taken as an oath by individuals or groups of people when they convert to Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-16|title=236 dalits adopt Buddhism in protest against Hathras Case|url=https://mediaindia.eu/society/dalit-conversions-in-india/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Media India Group|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Purandare|first=Vaibhav|title=How Babasaheb rejected and criticised the Vedas|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-babasaheb-rejected-and-criticised-the-vedas/articleshow/56750772.cms|access-date=2021-10-24}}</ref>

== {{Anchor|Contents}}Vows ==

{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=440|caption_align=center
| align = right
|image_style = border:none;
|background color =
| title =
| image1 = Dr. B. R. Ambedkar giving 22 vows after renouncing Hinduism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur.jpg
| image2 = Deekshabhoomi - panoramio.jpg
| footer = (left) On 14 October 1956, Ambedkar administering 22 vows after renouncing Hinduism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur; (right) [[Deekshabhoomi]] monument, located in [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] where [[B. R. Ambedkar]] converted to Buddhism in 1956 is the largest [[stupa]] in Asia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bhagwat|first=Ramu|title=Ambedkar memorial set up at Deekshabhoomi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-12-19/mumbai/27228796_1_dr-ambedkar-narayanan-smarak-samiti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016083900/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-12-19/mumbai/27228796_1_dr-ambedkar-narayanan-smarak-samiti|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|access-date=1 July 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 December 2001}}</ref>
}}

The following are the 22 vows administered by Ambedkar to his followers.
=== Omvedt version 1 ===
{{quote|
# I shall have no faith in [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva|Maheshwara]], nor shall I worship them.
# I shall have no faith in [[Rama]] and [[Krishna]], who are believed to be incarnation of God, nor shall I worship them.
# I shall have no faith in [[Parvati|Gauri]], [[Ganesha|Ganapati]] and other [[Hindu deities|gods and goddesses of Hindus]], nor shall I worship them.
# I do not believe in the incarnation of God.
# I do not and shall not believe that Lord [[Gautama Buddha in Hinduism|Buddha was the incarnation of Vishnu]]. I believe this to be sheer madness and false propaganda.
# I shall not perform ''[[Śrāddha|Shraddha]]'' nor shall I give ''[[Pitru Paksha|pind]]''.
# I shall not act in a manner violating the principles and teachings of the Buddha.
# I shall not allow any ceremonies to be performed by [[Brahmin]]s.
# I shall believe in the equality of man.
# I shall endeavour to establish equality.
# I shall follow the [[Noble Eightfold Path]] of the Buddha.
# I shall follow the ten ''[[Pāramitā|paramita]]s'' prescribed by the Buddha.
# I shall have [[Karuṇā|compassion]] and [[Mettā|loving-kindness]] for all living beings and protect them.
# I shall not steal.
# I shall not tell lies.
# I shall not commit carnal sins.
# I shall not take intoxicants like [[alcohol (drug)|liquor]], [[Psychoactive drug|drugs]], etc.
#: <small>(The previous five proscriptive vows [#13–17] are from the [[Five Precepts]].)</small>
# I shall endeavour to follow the [[Noble Eightfold Path]] and practice [[Karuṇā|compassion]] and [[Mettā|loving-kindness]] in everyday life.
# I renounce [[Hinduism]], which disfavors humanity and impedes the advancement and development of humanity because it is based on inequality, and adopt Buddhism as my religion.
# I firmly believe the Dhamma of the Buddha is the only true religion.
# I consider that I have taken a new birth. (Alternately, "I believe that by adopting Buddhism I am having a re-birth."{{R|jaibheem}})
# I solemnly declare and affirm that I shall hereafter lead my life according to the teachings of Buddha's Dhamma.
|source={{harvtxt|Omvedt|2003|pp=261–262}}}}

=== Omvedt version 2 ===
{{quote|
# I shall have no faith in [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva|Maheshwara]], nor shall I worship them.
# I shall have no faith in [[Rama]] and [[Krishna]], who are believed to be incarnation of God, nor shall I worship them.
# I shall have no faith in [[Parvati|Gauri]], [[Ganesha|Ganapati]], and other [[Hindu deities|gods and goddesses of Hindus]], nor shall I worship them.
# I do not believe in the incarnation of God.
# I do not and shall not believe that Lord [[Gautama Buddha in Hinduism|Buddha was the incarnation of Vishnu]]. I believe this to be sheer madness and false propaganda.
# I shall not perform [[Śrāddha|''Shraddha'']] nor shall I give [[Pitru Paksha|''pind'']].
# I shall not act in a manner violating the principles and teachings of the Buddha.
# I shall not allow any ceremonies to be performed by [[Brahmin]]s.
# I shall believe in the equality of man.
# I shall endeavour to establish equality.
# I shall follow the ''[[Noble Eightfold Path]]'' of the Buddha.
# I shall follow the ten [[Pāramitā|''paramita'']]s prescribed by the Buddha.
# I shall have [[Karuṇā|compassion]] and [[Mettā|loving-kindness]] for all living beings and protect them.
# I shall not steal.
# I shall not tell lies.
# I shall not commit carnal sins.
# I shall not take intoxicants like [[alcohol (drug)|liquor]], [[Psychoactive drug|drugs]], etc.
#: <small>(''The previous five proscriptive vows'' [#13–17] ''are from the'' [[Five Precepts]].)</small>
# I shall endeavour to follow the ''[[Noble Eightfold Path]]'' and practice [[Karuṇā|compassion]] and [[Mettā|loving-kindness]] in everyday life.
# I renounce [[Hinduism]], which disfavors humanity and impedes the advancement and development of humanity, because it is based on inequality, and adopt Buddhism as my religion.
# I firmly believe the ''[[Dhamma]]'' of the Buddha is the only true religion.
# I consider that I have taken a new birth. (''Alternately'', "I believe that by adopting Buddhism I am having a re-birth."<ref name="jaibheem">{{cite web |url=http://www.jaibheem.com/22%20Vows.htm |title=22 Vows |website=Jai Bheem (jaibheem.com) |place=India}}</ref>)
# I solemnly declare and affirm that I shall hereafter lead my life according to the teachings of Buddha's Dhamma.
|source={{harvtxt|Omvedt|2003|pp=261–262 }}}}

==The vows marble stone==
[[File:22 Vows (in Marathi) administered by Most Revered Bodhisattva Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the occasion of Buddhist Dhamma Deeksha on 14 October 1956 at Deeksha Bhoomi, Nagpur.jpg|thumb|right|twenty-two vows marble stone at the Deekshabhoomi]]

Considering the historical significance of these twenty-two vows, the then president of "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Deekshabhoomi Memorial Committee", and former Governor of Bihar and Kerala [[R. S. Gavai]] and Sadanand Fulzele, the secretary of the organization, have carved these 22 vows on a wide marble stone at the Deekshabhoomi ground and placed the pillar at the first sight of the stupa. At a [[Peace_Pagoda#Wardha,_India|Buddha Vihara at Wardha]], under M. L. Kasare's leadership, a similar grand pillar has been erected.<ref>{{Cite web|title='बावीस प्रतिज्ञा म्हणजे सत्यदर्शन'|url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/aurangabad/articleshow/51675017.cms|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Maharashtra Times|language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=क्या भाजपा ने आंबेडकर की 22 प्रतिज्ञाएं पढ़ी हैं?|language=hi|work=BBC News हिंदी|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-43604208|access-date=2021-10-25}}</ref> According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Ambedkarite Navayana Buddhists comprise about 87% (7.3 million) of Indian Buddhist community, and nearly 90% (6.5 million) of all Navayana Buddhists in India live in a single state, [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thequint.com/india/2017/06/17/dalits-converting-to-buddhism |title= Manu Moudgil, Dalits are still converting to Buddhism, but at a dwindling rate |website=The Quint |date=2017-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Moudgil|first=Manu|date=2017-07-01|title=Conversion To Buddhism Has Brought Literacy, Gender Equality And Well-Being To Dalits|url=https://www.indiaspend.com/conversion-to-buddhism-has-brought-literacy-gender-equality-and-well-being-to-dalits-18224/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=www.indiaspend.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Moudgil|first=Manu|date=2017-06-17|title=Dalits Are Still Converting to Buddhism, but at a Dwindling Rate|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/dalits-converting-to-buddhism|access-date=2021-10-25|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-02|title=Dalits who converted to Buddhism better off in literacy and well-being: Survey|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/dalits-who-converted-to-buddhism-better-off-in-literacy-and-well-being/745230/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-25|title=Wayback Machine|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|access-date=2021-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=बौद्ध बढ़े, चुनावी चर्चे में चढ़े|url=https://www.aajtak.in/india-today-hindi/special-report/story/huge-increase-in-the-population-of-dalit-budhist-in-india-372762-2016-06-07|access-date=2021-10-25|website=आज तक|language=hi}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Omvedt |first=Gail |year=2003 |title=Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and caste |publisher=Sage Publications |location=Thousand Oaks, CA |isbn=0761996648 |url=https://archive.org/details/buddhismindiacha00omve |url-access=limited |via=archive.org}}

{{Commons category|B. R. Ambedkar in Deekshabhoomi}}

{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:B. R. Ambedkar]]
[[Category:Buddhist ethics]]
[[Category:Buddhist belief and doctrine]]
[[Category:Buddhism and society]]
[[Category:Buddhist oaths]]
[[Category:Buddhism in India]]

Twenty-two vows of Ambedkar - Revision history

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