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Jain Rituals and Practices Jains worship their guides called Tirthankaras who attained liberation and showed the path of liberation to others, their worship is not for any worldly pleasures or grace to be received from God but God being an inspirational one for them to achieve liberation. Their most important daily recitation is called "Navkar Mantra” wherein Jains worship all those souls irrespective of their religions who are liberated or all those who have renounced the worldly life and pursuing the path of liberation. Many of them worship idols of Shravan balgora Tithankaras but there are sects which do not endorse the idol worship and lay emphasis on meditative practices. The other common rituals are meditation (Samayik), repentance for sins (Pratikraman), austerities and fasting. Penance has vital importance in self-purification. Jain ascetics follow five major or great vows namely nonviolence, truth, not taking anything from anybody without permission, total celibacy and non possession of any thing. They don't use vehicles to travel and observe strict rules prescribed regarding travel, food and stay. Monkhood is a major focus in the Jain faith unlike householder (Grahastha) in vedic tradition. A unique ritual in this religion involves a holy fast to death, called Sallekhana. Through this one achieves a death with dignity and dispassion as well as great reduction of negative karma. When a person is aware of death nearing, he or she may decide to gradually cease eating and drinking till death. It is called art of dying or Samadhi.
