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## 74]
[Upasakdasanga Sutra]
The devotee becomes engrossed in the excellent observance of the rituals, where the ritual or conduct becomes his main goal. Its observance takes the form of an ideal example or standard. That is, he creates a situation through his practice, which others accept as a model of that conduct. This is the specific vow form.
The practitioner, holding onto his self-strength, progresses from the first to the second, the second to the third, the third to the fourth, and so on, in the worship of images. When he completes one image and accepts the next, he continues to follow the rules of the accepted image as well as the rules of the previous images. It does not happen that the rules of the next image are accepted and the previous ones are abandoned. This sequence continues until the end.
Acharya Abhaydeva Suri has shed light on these eleven images in his commentary. The relevant verses have also been quoted.
A brief analysis of the devotee's images is as follows:
1. **Darshan-Pratima:** Darshan means vision or faith. Vision or faith is the element that is most essential for the upliftment and development of the soul. If the vision is pure, there will be faith in truth, only then will the seeker be able to move successfully on the path of practice. If there is distortion, doubt, or instability in the vision, then the efforts made for self-development do not bear fruit.
Although the Shravak is generally of Samyakdrishti, in this image he worships Darshan or vision specifically. To keep it very stable and unwavering, he has firm faith in the path laid down by the Vitarag Devas, the Panchmahavratdhara Guru, and the Vitarag. He is eager in contemplation, reflection, and practice based on this.
The worshiper of Darshan-Pratima, the Shraman Upasak, observes the Niratichar of Samyaktva. There is no place for doubt, desire, etc. in its observance. He is so firm in his faith that even knowing various opinions and counter-opinions, he is not attracted to them. He keeps his faith, belief, or devotion very pure. His thinking and behavior are based on this.
The time for the worship of Darshan-Pratima is considered to be one month.
2. **Vrat-Pratima:** After the worship of Darshan-Pratima, the devotee worships Vrat-Pratima. In Vrat-Pratima, he observes the Niratichar of the five Anuvrats and also the three Ganvrats. He also accepts the four Shikshavrats, but he is unable to observe the Samayik and Deshavakashik Vrats properly. He is endowed with qualities like compassion, etc.
The time for the worship of this image is two months.
3. **Samayik-Pratima:** The seeker who worships Samyak Darshan and Vrats, worships Samayik...