All in Good Faith

Author(s): Jean Potter, Marcus Braybrooke
Publisher: World Congress of Faiths

Page 57

All in Good Faith
Prayer or worship is the expression of one's devotion. A worshipper feels happy at the sight of his beloved image and momentarily he loses himself in complete devotion. He forgets his worries, his problems, even his whole existence. He starts praising and singing. He admires and performs all sorts of adoration. Sometimes a layman gets more peace and joy by some In one
sort of ritual worship than by reading scriptures which he may not even understand. way the whole idea of image worship does not fit into the Jain ideology of renunciation. Jain Gods or Tirthankaras are Vitraga Gods (those who have no attachment or aversion). They are also liberated souls not having any desire or any form and therefore do not grant any favours. This makes it seem strange that Jains have thousands of temples and they worship God with an intense devotion.
The whole thing can be explained from a different angle. Worship is also a type of meditation (a Dharma dhyana) Worship brings joy and peace, equanimity and love. Idol worship in Jain religion is a very old practice, perhaps older than the Vedic tradition. There is no reference to idol worship in the Vedas. It is possible that idol worship in Hindu religion is an influence of traditions which prevailed in India before the arrival of Aryan people.
Daily Prayers include five acts of obeisance:
Namo Arihantanam I bow to the arihants the ever-perfect spiritual victors; Namo Siddhanam = I bow to the siddhas the liberated souls; Namo Auariyanam = I bow to the Acharyas the leaders of the Jain order; Namo Uvajjayanm = I bow to the upadhyayas the learned preceptors; namo loe savva sahunam I bow to all the saints and sages everywhere in the world.
There is also a simple ritual of obeisance to God. When a person enters a temple he or she pays respect with folded hands, bowing the head and saying nishihi nishihi nishihi (This signifies giving up all bad thoughts and egoistic attitudes). A worshipper bows down in a systematic way and says:
'O compassionate one! allow me to worship. With whatever capacity I have. with my head down. Leaving behind ill feelings and sins.'
I bow
There are many worship-rituals too Chaitya-vandan or worshipping the Lord in a temple, is a short and simple ritual. It takes about five to ten minutes depending upon the song or songs rendered. During evenings and after some rituals Aarati and Mangaldivo are performed. This
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