Religious Quest of India

SR No.: 011031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J N Farquhar, Griswold
Publisher: J N Farquhar Griswold
Total Pages: 365
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 280

254 JAINA WORSHIP AND priests drag out a silver throne, and, placing it under a canopy erected in the court of the main temple, set the image of a Tīrthankara thereon. The pilgrim does the eight-fold worship (Faļa pājā, Candana pājā, Puspa pūjā, Dhüpa pājā, Dipa pūjā, Akşata pūjā, Naivedya pūjā, and Phaļa pājā) eleven times over, and in the intervals hymns are sung to the accompaniment of a harmonium; and when the writer witnessed it, boys dressed in shepherd-plaid trousers and bright pink-frilled jackets danced to the jingling accompani. ment of bells round their ankles. The pilgrim was in this case a little girl, who seemed to be utterly cxhausted by
fasting, thirst and fatigue. Private The Sthānakavāsi Jaina, being non-idolatrous and having worship. no temple which they can attcnd, naturally pay more
attention to meditation and private worship than the other sects, and if the reader would really learn to understand the heart of Jainism, it will repay him to study their private devotions with some minuteness, since after all a man's meditations are generally a true reflection of his creed.
The Digambara Jaina arc said to use a good deal of Sanskrit in their devotions; the Svetāmbara employ both Sanskrit and Māgadhi; but the Sthānakavāsi, who claim to hold closest of all the sects to primitive practice, confine themselves as far as possible to Māgadhi. Sanskrit would seem therefore to have come into use with idol worship under Hindu influence, and where reverence is refused to images, the sacred language of the Brāhmans is also neglected.
Every devout Sthānakavāsi ought to rise two hours before sunrise in winter and summer, and, taking in his hands his rosary, consisting of 108 beads, recite the Navakāra mantra, saluting Arihanta, Siddha, Acārya, Upā. dhyāya and Sadhu, and also Knowledge, Faith, Character and Austerity, and, this done, should if possible repair to the monastery. Every Apāsaro, as also every temple, has a little room where the Jaina keep their clothes for worship, which usually consist of five articles : two long pieces of