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The soul is like the sun, surrounded by dark clouds. Due to the black clouds of karma, the soul's supreme brilliance is not visible. It considers itself lowly and insignificant. The mistakes made in the past due to ignorance and carelessness can only be rectified through **pratikraman**. **Pratikraman** is like a panacea for destroying the disease of sin.
**Pratikraman** is a unique term in the Jain tradition. The literal meaning of **pratikraman** is to return. We have transgressed our limits, moved away from our natural state and entered a state of deviation. Therefore, returning to the limits of our natural form is **pratikraman**. **Pratikraman** is the criticism and condemnation of sins committed by oneself, by others, or by approving of sins committed by others, for the purpose of eliminating all sins committed through mind, speech, and body. Acharya Hemchandra wrote, "**Pratikraman** is to return oneself to the auspicious from the inauspicious among the auspicious yogas." Acharya Haribhadra also said the same in his **Aavashyakavritti**.
Returning from the transgression of the accepted rules and limits is **pratikraman**. In the field of sadhana, there are five terrible defects: **mithyatva**, **avrata**, **pramada**, **kṣaya**, and **ashubha yoga**. The sadhaka introspects his life during the pleasant times of morning and evening. At that time, he deeply contemplates whether he has strayed from the path of **samyaktv** and become entangled in the thorny bushes of **mithyatva**? Has he forgotten the nature of **vrata** and embraced **avrata**? Instead of wandering in the blissful garden of **aprammatta**, has he wandered in the scorching desert of **pramada**? Has he left the fragrant, verdant garden of **akṣaya** and walked on the blazing path of **kṣaya**? Has the tendency of mind, speech, and body, which should be engaged in **shubha yoga**, become engaged in **ashubha yoga**? If I have gone into **mithyatva**, **avrata**, **pramada**, **kṣaya**, and **ashubha yoga**, then I should return to **samyaktv**, **vrata**, **akṣaya**, **aprammatta**, and **shubha yoga**. **Pratikraman** is performed with this very vision.
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**Aavashyak Nirukti**, **Aavashyak Churni**, **Aavashyak Haribhadravriti**, **Aavashyak Malaya Giri Vriti**, etc. have discussed **pratikraman** in great detail. They have also given eight synonyms for **pratikraman**, which express the different meanings of **pratikraman**. Although the meaning of all eight is the same, they are:
1. **Pratipam kramanam pratikramanam**, **ayam artha shubhayoghebhyo'shubhayogantaraṁ krāntasya shubheshu evaṁ kramanātpratipam kramanam**. - **Yoga Shastra**, Third Light, **Svopjnavritti**
2. **Svasthanad yat parasthanam pramadasya vashad gatah**.
**Tatraiva kramanam bhuyah pratikramanamuchyate**.
3. (a) **Prati prativartanaṁ vā, shubheshu yogeshu mokshaphaladeshu**. **Nishalyasya yateryat tadva jneyam pratikramanam**. (b) **Aavashyak Nirukti**, Verse 1250
4. **Padikamanam padiyarana, pariharaṇa varana niyatti ya ninda gariha sohi, padikamanam atthaha hoi**.
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**Aavashyak Nirukti** 1233