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RITUALS
D05 - Six Ävashyakas (Six Essentials and Daily Observances)
To accept right faith or conviction, achieve self-restraint, become spiritually vigilant, cultivate good qualities like compassion and nonviolence, and attain the true nature of soul after giving up worldly activities is the essence of Pratikraman. In other words, it means returning to and reaffirming the path of nonviolence, truthfulness, and non-attachment. During Pratikraman, a lay person reflects on these vows and repents and requests for forgiveness for minor violations (known as Atichär) that may have been committed knowingly or unknowingly. Contemplation on each of these vows takes place so that we are more aware of such circumstances and can avoid such minor violations of vows in the future. If Pratikraman is performed only to confess past sinful acts and with an open declaration not to commit them in future, but the individual readily commits sinful activities, then this type of recitation of the ritual is called Dravya or external Pratikraman. Dravya Pratikraman is not useful; on the contrary, it is harmful. It deceives one's own self and is meant simply to deceive others. If after the performance of Pratikraman ritual, an individual minimizes or eliminates sinful activities in real life, then the Pratikraman is called Bhäva or internal Pratikraman, which is very useful for purification of the soul. Eligibility to do Pratikraman: Jain literature clearly indicates that the Pratikraman ritual is meant for repenting and requesting forgiveness for "one's past minor violations of the vows that may have occurred knowingly or unknowingly". As previously mentioned, monks and nuns are to follow the 5 great vows and for lay people, there are 12 vows of limited nature. Hence the Pratikraman ritual is meant for monks, nuns and only those lay people who follow these vows. The logic is that if one does not practice the vows, then the question of repenting and forgiveness of minor violations of the vows does not arise. Many Jain lay people do not practice the 12 vows. Therefore, after understanding the purpose and meaning of our great ritual, every Jain should strive to adopt the 12 vows of lay people according to their capacity and circumstances. They should review them before Samvatsari Pratikraman and improve their limits every year in such a way that ultimately they will be able to fully practice the vows and live an ascetic life. Inclusion of Six Ävashyaks in the Ancient Pratikraman Ävashyak: During the last few centuries, review of Jain literature indicates that the word "Pratikraman" is used as a common noun for all six essential acts (six Ävashyakas). This is also meaningful because during the course of time, the Pratikraman ritual has been expanded and enhanced to include the Sutras of all other Avashyakas. This way laypeople can easily complete all six daily Avashyak rituals within 48 minutes. Among all six essentials, the Pratikraman ritual is the most important one. It covers the other five essentials during the performance of its rites as follows: Before Pratikraman begins, we must take a vow of Sämäyika. During Pratikraman, by reciting Logassa and Namutthunam Sutras, we bow down to and offer obeisance to the 24 Tirthankars and their attributes. By reciting Panchindiya and Khamäsaman Sutras, we bow down to the ascetics and their attributes. Thus, Pratikraman includes Chauvisattho and Dev-Vandan essentials. Pratikraman is done while sitting or standing in a meditative posture, which is Käyotsarga. During Pratikraman, we are also required to take Pachchakkhän appropriate to our capacity - a Pratyakhyana essential. The Pratikraman ritual includes many Sutras. The original sutras are written in Ardha-Magadhi language of the common people during Bhagawan Mahävir's time and Sanskrit languages, which consist of many hymns in praise of Lords and many verses of repentance and confession. Sutras Recited During Pratikraman Ävashyak: General Repentance of all Sins
Samvatsaria (Devasia) Padikkamane Thäum? Sutra
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
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