Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 101

A Brief Survey of a Long Tradition
81
The construction of numerous temples, the erection of innumerable statues and a rich and refined iconography, which is inspired by the inner struggle of all these herges and which is both lively and of vivid hue, are all expressions of fervour and admiration on the part of the faithful.40 These expressions which have upheld and maintained the dharma form simply a stage on the path leading to interiorisation, the stage of signs necessary for pūjā, i.e. for the worship directed to the tirthankaras. External idol-worship is only performed by śrāvakas and śrāvikās and is seber, dignified and charaeterised by recollestedness.)
Temple worship takes place in the early hours of the morning. Among the Digambaras of the South pūjā is as a general rule offered at a fixed moment by an officiating priest, in the presence of śrāvakas and śrāvikās. Among the Digambaras of the North the śrävakas and śrāvikās themselves perform the pūjā. Among the Svetāmbaras, although there is also a priest who offers pūjā at a fixed moment in the name of the saṁgha and as its representative, the Srävakas and śrávikās perform the worship of their choice separately. At sunset the very simple ritual is celebrated by the priest only and varies according to locality and different communities. There is no offering of flowers or fruit as is the custom in the morning pūjā, but sticks of sandalwood incense may be burned. The ritual on this occasion consists in ārati, the circling from left to right of the light (or lights) of one or several oil-lamps around the principal image. The ascetics, however, have gone beyond this stage and their worship is entirely interior, though it is by no means less fervent and is expressed in a very pure, ardent and often poetic type of bhakti. 41
Svetāmbaras. The best-known of these works are: the Mahāpurāņa of Jinasena, the final portion of which is written by his disciple Guņabhadra (IXth c.) and the Trișașțiśalākāpuruşacaritra of Hemacandra (XIIth c.)
40 Sadhvi Hemaprabhà has given a good introduction to this idea and has also described in detail the various features of the worship; cf. Hemaprabhā, 1976, devatattva, pp. 21-40.
41 Reformed sects have abolished external worship practices and their form of devotion resembles that of the ascetics; cf. P 200 ff.: 247 ff.