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PRATIKRAMAN RITUAL
Preparation for Pratikraman
Sämäyika and Pratikraman rituals are to be performed in the presence of a monk or nun. However, in his/her absence, one symbolizes the presence of the monk by keeping a religious scripture in front on a table or stand and placing a rosary (Navakärväli) over the scripture. Some sects perform the Pratikraman ritual facing the Northeast direction as this symbolizes the presence of the living Tirthankar Simandhar-swami of Mahavideha land (Kshetra).
Rules of Pratikraman:
• Wear clean (freshly washed) clothes.
Keep a Charavalo (cotton* broom) to sweep the floor prior to any unexpected movements of the body.
Sit on a rectangular cotton* piece of cloth (Katäsanu) on the floor.
Place a clean Muhapatti (handkerchief) in front of the mouth during the recitation of sutras or keep your mouth covered by Muhapatti at all times.
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Refrain from activities such as eating, drinking, and chewing. If possible, avoid using the restroom during Pratikraman. Maintain serenity and silence when Sutras are not being recited by you.
* Note
Jain literature indicates that one should sit on a woolen cloth and keep a woolen broom during the ritual for the protection of crawling bugs and insects during rainy season and other time.
However currently all commercial wool is produced by torturing and exploiting sheep and other animals. Also there are no bugs and insects crawl in the Jain centers or in our houses in North America. The usage of these two items has only symbolical meaning.
Hence we have replaced wool items with cotton items.
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ENGLISH PRATIKRAMAN
