________________
‘Introduction' (Pañca Pratikramaņa). To highlight only a few, the famous Gayatri hymn of the Vedas seeks enlightenment and wisdom from the Lord Savitri, while a gāthā from the Jaina texts seeks 'siddhi' (persection) from the Siddhas. Compare:
"Om tat Savitur varenyum bhargo devosya dhimahi
dhiyo yonaḥ pracodayāt."
and "Candesu nimmalayarā, aiccesu uhiyam payāsayarā, sägaruvaragarbhīrā, siddhū siddhim muma disunnu."
More intersting comparisons can be traced between the Pali Suttas which are daily recited by the Buddhists, and are in a way like daily 'essential acts' and some verses of the Pratikramaņa Sūtras. One can compare the recitation of 'Saraṇattaya' (Three Refuge) and the Panca Sīlas with the text of the Avaśyaka Sutra. The Buddhist texts state:
“Namo tassu Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa" "Buddhar sarunamn gacchāmi. Dhamma saranam
Sarghum saranaṁ gacchūmni'
gacchāmi.
“Salutations to Samyagsambuddha Bhagavān Arhat."
“I take refuge under the Buddha. I take refuge under the Dhamma. I take refuge under the Samgha."
(Laghupāļha, Saranatlaya) The Jaina texts similarly state:
"Namo Arithartānam. Namo Siddhūņam". “Cattāri saranaṁ pavajjāmi, Ariharte saranaṁ pavajjarni, Siddhe saranaṁ pavajjāmi, Sahūsaranaṁ pavujjāmi, Kevalipannutum dhammam saranam pavajjämi".
“Salutations to the Arihaṁtas, Salutations to the Siddhas". "I take refuge under the four, I take refuge under the Arihamias,
I take refuge under the Siddhas, I take refuge under the Šādhus,
18