________________
Preface
The one and only goal of Jainism is to attain total liberation of our soul by removing its impurities. The soul possesses two types of impurities:
1. Mithyätva - false or illusionary knowledge about its own (soul's) nature or attributes and about worldly reality (ignorance about own's own nature)
which are anger, ego, deceit, greed,
2. Kashayas or Vices and other vices
To remove such impurities, from the practical point of view, Jainism has prescribed six essential practices known as Six Ävashyakas which are to be performed daily.
2 Chauvisattho or
Hence one needs to understand that the performance of these Avashyak rituals is considered religious act only if we are able to reduce our ignorance and vices after the performance of these rituals.
Six Ävashyakas or Practices:
1 Sämäyika
Chaturvimshati-stava
3 Vandanä
PREFACE
4 Pratikraman
-
5 Käyotsarga
6 Pratyäkhyäna or Pachchakhäna
To remain in Equanimous state for certain duration
To praise the qualities of Arihant / Tirthankars
Respecting Spiritual personalities and elders
Repentance and Confession of Sins and Violations of Vows Perform Meditation of certain duration in Yoga Posture
Live a life by Practicing some or all External and Internal penances
Monks and nuns and devoted Jain lay people (Shrävaks and Shrävikäs) staunchly observe these rituals while others practice them to the best of their ability.
The history of Jain literature indicates that initially the rituals of all six Avashyakas were performed separately. However over the
PRATIKRAMAN SUTRA BOOK
7
