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RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: NAVKAR MANTRA:
Of all the prayers, Navkar Mantra, is the most important and sacred. In it, one bows to the characteristics of five different entities namely Arihant (enlightened sages like Mahavir), Siddha (liberated souls), Aacharya (head of congregation), Upadhyaya (Sadhu/Sadhvi teacher) and Sadhu/ Sadhvi. It is important to note that it is not individuals that are worshiped. Instead, the characteristics and qualities of those particular entities are worshipped. Also, it is important to note that although Arihant had shed four types of Karma (while Siddha had shed all eight types of Karma), Arihant is first in the Navkar Mantra. This is because Arihant had a body in the human form and gave us the religion, as we now know it. AAVASHYAK (Essentials):
Six Aavashyaks are to be performed daily by all Jains. According to one tradition (Swetamber) they are:
1) Samayik (meditation) 2) Chauvisso (pray and appreciate qualities of the 24
Tirthankars) 3) Vandana (respect to Sadhu/Sadhvis) 4) Pratikraman (reflect, repent and confess past
commissions of bad thoughts and deeds and
omissions of things to be done) 5) Kayotsarg (non-attachment to the body) 6) Pachchhakhan (religious Vows renouncing certain
activities for a certain period of time to discipline
one's self and increase will power) SACRED TEXT:
Jainism's beliefs, principles and philosophy expounded by Bhagwan Mahavira were preserved from generation to generation orally until they were compiled and written down
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