Anjan Shalaka Pran Pratistha Ceremony Shwetambar Sect

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/199998/1

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Pratishtha Ceremony of Shvetambar Tradition for Jain Temples in America Pravin K Shah Jaina Education Committee jainaedu@gmail.com Revised on November 11, 2015 First published June 27, 2008 The first version of this article was compiled in 2008. At that time 8 different Jain centers of America were planning to do the Pratishtha ceremony. This article is now updated with current information. The primary purpose of this article is to educate first generation Jain youth and adults of North America. This is one of the most difficult articles I have compiled because a very different view exists between immigrant adults and first generation adults of North America. Introduction There are two types of Pratishtha Vidhis (rituals) performed to install a Tirthankar Murti of the Shvetambar Murtipujak tradition in a Jain temple. Prana-Pratishtha (Anjan-Shalaka) Vidhi which includes Standard Vidhi and Panch Kalyanak Vidhi. Prana-Pratishtha (Anjan-Shalaka) Vidhi is a part of Panch Kalyanak Vidhi. Simple Pratishtha Vidhi which includes only Satandard Vidhi but does not include the Panch Kalyanak and Anjan-Shalaka ritual This article provides an overview of both ceremonial processes as performed by the Shvetambar Murtipujak Jain communities. It also explains the benefits and additional responsibilities, the members of the society have to fulfill if their Jain centers decide to install a murti with AnjanShalaka/Prana-Pratishtha ritual. Many Jain temples in America have installed Tirthankar murtis with a simple Pratishtha ritual while a few with the Anjan-Shalaka ritual. This article will provide some help to understand the differences. History of Pratishtha Ritual The current Pratishtha ritual (Vidhi) that all Shvetambar Murtipujak Jains use is defined in the "Pratishtha-kalpa (Anjanshalaka-vidhi)" manuscript compiled by Upadhyay Shri Sakalchandra Gani about 300 years ago (17th Century). http://www.jainlibrary.org/book.php?file=600016 About 1000 years after Lord Mahavir's nirvana (5th century AD), the memorized Jain Scriptures (Agam sutras) by monks were documented or written down. The Anjan Shalaka vidhi or Pratistha Vidhi is not mentioned in any of the documented Agam sutras. Hence, it can be easily concluded that the ritual (vidhi) started after the 5th century AD and it is not based on Jain Agam Sutras. The two ancient manuscripts: Nirvan Kalika by Padliptsuri and Achar Dinkar by Vardhmansuri are the basis for the current Anjan Shalaka vidhi. According to Jain historian Dr. Madhusudan A. Dhakay, these manuscripts were written in around 7th century. (Ref - Article "Padliptsuri Virchit Nirvan Kalikano Samay" by late Dr. Madhusudan A Dhakay who is one of the authorities of the Jain religion and the recipient of many prestigious awards which includes the Padma Bhushan Award of the Government of India in 2010). http://www.jainlibrary.org/elib master/article/230000 article qujarati/Padliptsuri krut Nirv ankalika no Samay ane Samasyao 249358 std.pdf

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In the introduction of the "Pratishtha-kalpa (Anjanshalaka-vidhi)", the 17th century manuscript, indicates that this ritual is compiled from using several different Pratishtha-kalpa manuscripts available at 17 th century time. The reference manuscripts are: Pratishtha-kalpa manuscripts of Shri Haribhadrasuri (8th century), Shri Hemchandrasuri (12th century), Vadivetal Shri Shantichandra, Shri Talakacharya, Shri Mantungsuri (9th Century as per Jainendra Siddhanta Kosa) etc. The author, Upadhyay Shri Sakalchandra Gani has expanded several sections of certain rituals and some traditional rituals (Laukik or popular of Indian culture) are also added by him. ref www.jaine Library.org - book # 600016 The above listed references also indicate that the earliest Pratishtha ritual manuscripts (Nirvan Kalika and Achar Dinkar) were written between the 5th and 7th centuries Pratishtha (Installation of a Murti) Ceremony in a Temple Basically there are two Pratishtha ceremonies: 1. Simple Pratishtha ceremony and 2. Prana-Pratishtha ceremony, The same rituals are performed in both the ceremonies, except during the Prana-Pratishtha ceremony an additional ritual known as Pancha-Kalyanak Vidhi; celebrating the five great events; conception, birth, renunciation (Diksha), realization (Keval Jnan), and liberation (Nirvan) of life of a Tirthankar are performed on the murti (idol). A special ritual named Anjan-Shalaka is a part of the Pancha Kalyanak ritual and is performed during Keval Jnan Kalyanak. The list of all rituals which are performed during the Pratishtha ceremony is defined at the end of this article in the following Appendixes. Appendix 1 - List of Required Daily and Yearly Rituals of Anjan-Shalaka Murti Appendix 2 - List of Rituals of the Pratistha Ceremony Appendix 3 - Pancha kalyanak Puja Information In the Prana-Pratishtha ceremony, during Keval Jnan Kalyanak ritual, certain rituals such as Anjan-Shalaka and Adhi-Vasana (Vishistha Vidhana) are performed only by an Acharya Maharaj (Head monk of a Jain congregation). These rituals are performed in India on murtis of Tirthankars, and then the murtis are transported to America for the final installation in temples. This is so because Jain Acharyas who only travel by walking bare-foot strictly following five great Vows cannot travel to America from India. All other rituals of the Pratishtha ceremony are performed by a learned person who is known as a Vidhikar. Prana-Pratishtha (Pancha-Kalyanak ritual) ceremony occurs only once on any Tirthankar murti. However the Simple Pratishtha (just installation of a murti) ceremony may occur several times if the murti is moved from one temple to another temple or from one place to another within a temple. Hence, the ceremony we perform in America is generally a Simple Pratishtha Ceremony on either an Anjan-Shalaka murti or non-Anjan-Shalaka murti. Generally in the USA, the Jain society defines the Pratishtha ceremony as a Prana-Pratishtha ceremony if it installs a murti which had Anjan-Shalaka done in India. This is not a correct terminology because we do not perform the Anjan-Shalaka ritual here in America. We only do simple Pratishtha, meaning installing a murti at its defined place in a temple. The status of a murti of the Simple Pratishtha ritual can be changed in the future to a PranaPratishtha murti by performing Pancha-Kalyanak and Anjan-Shalaka rituals but one cannot

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change the status the other way. To change the status, one needs to send the existing murti to India so that an Acharya Maharaj can perform the required rituals. A Prana-Pratishtha celebration may last from 5 to 12 days depending upon whether certain rituals are performed in their mini versions or their elaborate versions. The Simple Pratishtha rituals can be done within two days. Differences between Simple and Prana-Pratishtha (Anjan-Shalaka) Murti: It is believed that with the Simple Pratishtha Vidhi, the murti is considered "Darshaniya" meaning that, as a minimum requirement, one needs to do Darshan and prayer daily, and with the PranaPratishtha, the murti becomes "Pujaniya" meaning that Jain members of the society must do Ashtaprakari Puja daily, Arti and Mangal Divo two times a day, and other rituals as defined in Appendix 1. It seems that the belief of "Darshniya" and "Pujaniya" is a traditional belief. There is no authentic documented evidence exist of this belief in the ancient literature which explains Jain Principles, Philosophy, Conduct, and Ritual. Both murtis, with and without the Anjan-Shalaka seremony, look the same. However, it is strongly believed that many powerful Mantras and Sutras recited by Shri Acharya Maharaj during Pancha-Kalyanak and Anjan-Shalaka rituals, which invoke: Life (Prana) in the Tirthankar murti during Chyavana (conception) Kalyanak ritual. Hence the murti is considered a living person (Tirthankar). "Divya Chakshu" (Keval-inan) by Anjan-Shalaka ritual during Keval Jnana Kalyanak. Hence the murti becomes living Tirthankar. Shasan Devata (heavenly demigod of the Bhavanpati category) who provides protection to Tirthankar murti, the temple and the community associated with the temple. It is also believed that the Shasan Devata will bring material prosperity to the society and its members. A Tirthankar attains Keval-Jnan once which remains forever; hence, once this ritual is performed on any Tirthankar murti, then its status can never be changed in future with one exception - if the murti is physically damaged then there is a special ritual which is performed to uninstall the Anjan-Shalaka ritual on the physically damaged murti before properly disposing it off. Once the temple installs an Anjan-Shalaka or "Pujaniya" murti, then members of the society must perform certain rituals daily and certain rituals yearly (see Appendix 1) under all circumstances other than natural disasters (earth quake, flood, etc.) beyond human control. In summary, the members of the society must perform following rituals daily (all 365 days) and annually to the "Pujaniya" murti for ever: Ashta-Prakari puja (Puja which uses 8 different items) and Chaityavandan ritual in the morning every day. Daily Arti and Mangal Divo rituals in the morning and evening Changing of a flag ceremony including Astotary Snatra or Laghu shanty Snatra Mahotsav and Sattar Bhedi Puja rituals once a year Adhar Abhisheka Ritual once a year However, one can do all these rituals on a "Darshaniya" murti voluntarily (it is not required). Benefits of Prana Pratistha / Anjan Shalaka Murti:

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It is believed that the Jain society and the community associated significantly progress spiritually and materially with Anjan Shalaka Murti in the temple. The spiritual progress is attributed to the Anjan Shalaka murti. After the complete Pancha Kalvanak ceremony, the spiritual aura of the Tirthankar murti covers a much larger area of the community. Hence spiritual progress occurs. The material progress is provided by the Shasan Devata, who is a demigod of Bhavanpati category and who is always present with Anjan Shalaka murti. The Shasan Devata will be pleased if we do the daily Puja and Arti with proper reflection, and he will provide the material prosperity to the individuals and to the society. However, if we do not perform Puja and other required rituals daily, then he will be unhappy and the society and all members will suffer severely. To be pleased or to be unhappy is one of the characteristics of demigods of Bhavanpati. This is why it is absolutely necessary to perform daily and yearly rituals on an Anjan-Shalaka Murti to make the Shasan Devata happy. Employing a Pujari for Daily Rituals In India and now outside India including America, Jain societies employ pujaris to perform the daily rituals on the Prana Pratistha | Anjan Shalaka Murtis. Also, in India almost all pujaris are non-Jains in the Swetambar Murtipujak tradition. Jain societies need to hire Pujari because the members do not have time to come to the temple every day and spend few hours to perform daily rituals. Such practice grossly violates the basic principles of the Jain religion. Not a single Jain scripture or any ancient or contemporary Jain literature supports such a practice. If we have to pay someone to fulfill our religious obligations then it is absolutely clear that we do not follow our religious practice and we are in clear violation of Lord Mahavir's preaching. Spiritually we cheat ourselves. We cannot progress spiritually with this type of the arrangement. On the contrary it only boosts our ego that in America, our temple has a murti with Anjan-Shalaka or our temple is the first one with Anjan-Shalaka murti in USA. In fact, during the 3rd Svetambar Jain Murtipujak Muni Sammelan under the leadership of Acharya Shri Omkar-Suriji - year 1988, a resolution was introduced and passed unanimously by all Acharyas that, "A Puja cannot be considered a valid puja to an Anjan-Shalaka murti if only puja is done by a paid Pujari." This convention was represented by all 18 Swetambar Jain Gacchadhipati Acharyas. However, there is no system existing amongst Jain communities to enforce the resolution passed unanimously by the conventions of Jain Acharyas and monks. Scholars' Opinion: Most of the Jain scholars who regularly visit various Jain societies of America indicate that we should not install any murti with Anjan-Shalaka ritual in America. However there are several Jain Acharyas in India, who strongly recommend to their American followers that, every Jain temple should have Anjan Shalaka Murtis to progress spiritually and materially in America. The Story of Shatrunjay Tirtha at Palitana: Shatrunjay Tirth (Palitana) is one of the most popular and pious Tirths of Shvetambar Murtipujak Jains. On mount Shatrunjay there are more than 20,000 murtis with Anjan-Shalaka. On any regular day, most of the pilgrims pay homage to the main murti Shri Adinath Bhagwan of the main temple and visit a few nearby temples. They hardly do puja of 10 to 20 murtis and hardly do "Darshan" of another 100 to 200 murtis. Less than 1.00% of the people travel via the Nava Tuk route (long route) where the majority of the murtis exist. There are several thousand murtis which no pilgrims visit.

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However, all 20,000 murtis require Puja and Arti daily. The Jain institution, the Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi has hired around 250 Pujaris for performance of the daily puja of these murtis. All Pujaris are non-Jains. You can imagine the quality of the puja they perform. I visit Palitana almost every year, and mostly take a long (Nava Tuk) route to reach the main temple because there is so much history associated with the place. One can easily visualize how pujaris perform the daily Puja rituals on these murtis. It is a production operation on a large scale. After watching this I am sure that one loses some respect and faith in our religious rituals. The payroll liability of pujaris and the associated staff is about Rs. 1,00,00,000 ($250,000) per year. Most of the donations received from the pilgrims are used to pay the salaries of these pujaris and the associated staff. The situation is so bad that about 50 to 60 years ago the Pedhi decided not to install any new Murti with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on Mount Shatrunjay. We have created a tremendous liability to ourselves and there is no practical solution for the problem. The Story of Jesalmer Tirtha in Rajasthan: A Jain friend observed this about 15 years ago and I have also verified with other sources that Jesalmer Tirth (Rajasthan, India) has 400 to 500 Dhatu Pratima (metal murtis). They are all Anjan-Shalaka murtis, but are not installed permanently in one place. It is called Chal Pratishtha where the Tirthankar murtis can be moved from one place to another to celebrate special occasions. Every day a pujari brings a bucket of water and immerses one murti at a time in the bucket and then puts its back on the platform to dry naturally. After immersing all murtis in this way, he returns to perform puja on the murti. He does it just like a mass production of a commodity in a factory. If we believe that the Shasan Devata is always present at all times, we can imagine how unhappy and angry he might be. In India, we have 18 different independent Jain Gacchadhipati Acharyas. If all of them get together and come up with a practical unified solution, then and only then there is a hope to resolve the situation. Summary and Recommendation: The Prana Pratishtha ceremony is considered the most pious ceremony of our religion. Before any American Jain society installs such a murti, they must make sure that their members are ready to perform Puja and Arti daily forever. Their first-generation Jain youth/adults (they are now around 40 years of age) must also accept the responsibility to continue to carry on such rituals voluntarily After the Prana Pratistha ritual, the Murti is considered a living Tirthankar. To transport a living Tirthankar (who has Keval-jnan) from India to USA in a plane is not proper because nonvegetarian food is served around the living Tirthankar Murti. Significant Ashatana occurs. It would be better if Shri Acharya Maharaj who will be doing Anjan Shalaka Vidhi flies with Aloyana or Prayashchitta from his Guru or from the Jain Sangh. Employing a paid pujari to perform daily rituals on Anjan Shalaka murties, cannot enhance our spirituality. Spiritually we cheat ourselves. This is not what the Jain religion teaches us. This is not what we want to teach our children. We cannot attain liberation by paying someone (Jain or non-jain) to do a religious act that was meant for us to do voluntarily with proper reflections for our spiritual progress. I think this way we do more Ashatana (committing higher sin) than not doing the daily puja at all if we do not have time to do it. The belief that once the Anjan Shalaka (Pancha Kalyanak) ceremony is performed, the spiritual aura of the murti covers a much larger area of the community is in clear violation of the basic Jain principles. The Jain Tirthankars are Vitaragi meaning they do not possess any attachment and aversion. Hence our spiritual progress will occur if we truly pray and reflect in front of any

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types of murti or even no murti. The belief of higher spiritual benefits due to only Anjan Shalaka performed murti violates the basic principles of Jainism. Also the belief that Shasan Devta will help us to progress materially is also a clear violation of Jain principles. It indicates that we practice the religion based on greed or fear. There is strong evidence that the Pratishtha ritual manuscript was written around the 6th or 7th century. Historically this is the time when Chaityavasi yatis who were controlling the assets of the Jain temples, may have introduced such rituals to generate income for the Jain temple and to support their luxurious lifestyle. By introducing fears and greed in the ritual, they exploited and controlled the Jain communities. Because of these types of practices instituted in Jain temples, a layperson name Shri Lonkashah started movement of non-murti worshiping and established a Sthanakavasi sect. The Digambar Acharyas in India do not play any direct role in Pancha-Kalyanak and Pran Pratishtha ritual of the Digambar Tirthankar Murtis. They believe that it is a violation of their five great vows if they get involve directly in any types of rituals involving religious material (Dravya puja). Hence, Digambars have Panch Kayanak and similar Anjan Shalaka vidhi on a murti during Pratishtha ceremony done by a learned scholar or Pandit in America. Also Digambars do not have any such requirement that after Panch Kayanak Pratishtha vidhi, the Jain community must perform certain rituals daily. Both Darshan (viewing and praying) and Puja are voluntarily done by the community. It is acceptable if for some reason, no a temple on a particular day. They do not have to employ a pujari for such tasks Almost every American Jain temples associated with JAINA are neither Shvetambar nor Digambar. They are just Jain temples. We should be open to accept the best practices from every Jain sect and do not accept any religious practices which are imposed on us by tradition based on fear or greed. We should not be against religious rituals because no religion can survive without simple pious rituals. However, we should be totally against any ritual imposed on us by fear or greed. This approach may have been effective in the old times, but in today's environment it creates a negative impact on our youth and adults. In America, hardly any (less than 5%) 1st generation youth/adults who are around 30 to 40 years and older are active in their Jain temples, societies, and communities. To effectively implement the resolution passed by all Acharyas "A Puja cannot be considered a valid puja to an Anjan-Shalaka murti if only done by a paid Pujari", I would recommend and request all Jain Acharyas that they should not perform any Pran Pratishtha ritual on a new murti unless requesting organization and individual takes a vow stating that they will never hire any Pujari for daily Puja and Arti rituals. Alternatively the Acharyas can remove the daily Puja and Arti requirements as done in the Digambar traditions. This was the most difficult article I have ever compiled. Please let me know if you find any error in the information provided. If I have hurt any one's feeling with this article, I sincerely request forgiveness. Pravin K. Shah, Jaina Education Committee Jain eLibrary in charge jainaedu@gmail.com 919-859-4994 Revised - November 10, 2015 Original - June 27, 2008

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Appendix - 1 List of Required Daily and Yearly Rituals of Anjan-Shalaka Murti Daily Morning Rituals consist of the following: * Take a bath and cleanse the physical body * Put on Puja slothes Prepare a liquid paste of Sandal wood Carry some flowers, fruits, sweets, divo, peacock feather, three Angluchhana (three pieces of simple white material for wiping the murti after bathing), Vaskshep, water etc. Enter the temple by reciting Nissihi and Namo Jinanam at appropriate places After entering altar, do cleaning of a murti, bathe with water, and do Chandan Puja, Pushpa Puja on the murti. Do Dhoop Puja, Deepak Puja, and Chamar waving, Do Akshat (Rice) Puja, Naivedya Puja, and Fal Puja * Do Iriyavahiya and Chaitya Vandan * Do Arti and Mangal Deevo rituals . Daily Evening Rituals: * Do Dhoop and Deepak Puja * Do Iriyavahiya and Chaitya Vandan * Do Arti and Mangal Deevo rituals Yearly Ritual * Changing of a flag ceremony including Astotary Snatra or Laghu-Shanty Snatra Mahotsav and Sattar Bhedi Puja Adhar Abhisheka Ritual For simple Pratishtha murti, none of the above rituals are required but it is suggested to do as many as you can. Appendix 2 - List of Rituals for the Pratistha Ceremony * Shri Kumbha Sthapana * Shri Akhand-Deepak Sthapana Shri Jwara-Ropan in the earthen pot (Kodiyu). Seven types of grains are collected with MatiEarth-powder and water is poured every day by an unmarried girl. Maneka Sthambha aropana and built a Toran on the Main Gate of a temple Shri Nav Grah Patla Pujan Shri Dash Digpal Patla Pujan Shri Asta Mangal Patla Pujan * Kshetrapal pujan either Laghu (mini) or elaborate version Siddha Chakra Pujan either Laghu or elaborate version

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* * Visha Sthanaka Pujan either Laghu or elaborate version Nanda Varta Pujan either Laghu or elaborate version Shri Devi Pujan (this is for the temples that have Pratimas of Dev & Devi and if time permits) Pancha Kalyanak Puja (as defined below - omitted for simple Pratishtha ceremony)* Shri Rath Yatra Varghodo (procession) Shri Eighteen (18) Abhisheka Shri Pratishtha Mahotsav (that includes Pratishtha of Bhagawan's Pratima, Dev Devi Pratima, Dhwaja Danda and Kalash etc.) Shri Laghu Shanti Snatra Pujan (If the Sangh is large enough then Shri Brahat Shanti Pujan is performed) On the day of Pratishtha - Ashta Prakari Puja, Aarati, Mangal Divo & Shanti Kalash * * Next day after the Pratishtha * Dwar opening ceremony * Sattarbhedi Puja Note - A day before the Pratishtha Day, it is also appropriate to perform Gadi Pujan - the Pujan of the actual place where Pratima will be installed). Appendix 3 - Pancha Kalyanak Puja Information Chyavana (Conception) Kalyanak Ritual * Establishing Shravak and Shravikas as Tirthankar's parents for the Pratishtha Establishing Indra and Indrani (King and queen of heavenly god and goddess) * Establishing other relatives like Senapati, Nagarsheth, mother, father, Mama, Mami, Father in law and Mother in law etc. of Tirthankar Perform Chyavana (Conception) Kalyanak Ritual 14 Dreams of mother of Tirthankar * Invoking Life in the Tirthankar murti * Vibrating ritual of Indra's Simhasan * Recitation of Shakra stav (Namutthunam Stotra) by Indra in heaven Janma (Birth) Kalyanak Ritual * Celebration by 56 Dik Kumaris * Vibrating ritual of Indra's Simhasan Celebration of Tirthankar's birth occasion at Mount Meru by heavenly gods Performing of 250 Abhisheka A female servant Priyamvada announces the good news to the father, the king on the following morning King celebrates the birth of a Tirthankar Name giving ceremony by auntie (Father's sister) Other various important occasions in the life of Tirthankar such as 1st day of going to school, Marriage is symbolized by Tirthankar murti marrying to Kumbha (not in case of the murtis of Mallinath and Neminath)

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* Rajyabhishaka - Becoming the king (not in the case of murtis of Mallinath, Neminath, and Mahavirswami) Diksha (Renunciation) Kalyanak Ritual Request by Lokantika Deva (heavenly gods) to the future Tirthankar to renounce the world for the benefit of humanity and all souls of the universe. Tirthankar donates his/her personal wealth (Charity) for the entire year Diksha celebration and initiation of an ascetic life. Leaving the town as a monk on barefoot * Kevaljnan (Realization) Kalyanak Ritual * Attainment of Keval-Jnana at midnight Adhi Vaasana (Vishistha Vidhana) ritual** * Anjan-Shalaka in the eye indicating opening of a Divya Chakshu or realization of Eternal Truth** * Establishment of four fold order of the Jain Sangh ** Note - Anjan-Shalaka and Adhi vasana are secret rituals and hence they are performed at midnight by Jain Acharya. Nirvana (Liberation) Kalyanak Ritual * On the following morning, Nirvana Kalyanak ritual is performed * Performance of 108 Abhisheka and other rituals as defined in Appendix 1A These five rituals known as Pancha-Kalyanaks are omitted in a simple Pratishtha Ceremony.