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PHILOSOPHY OF SQUL
Adoration of the preceptor comprises in bowing down under prescribed rules, asking about his health and peace etc. offering food-eatables drinkables etc. and offering medicines, books place of shelter etc. Reward of such devotion is also very great. Merchant Dhana offered fresh clarified butter to his preceptor and thereby he obtained right faith, and by the passage of time he became a prophet Rishabhdeva. Nayasara also acquired right faith through worship of his preceptor and later as he became a prophet.
Shri Gautamswami asked: "Oh, Lord what reward is accorded to a person who pays his homages to his preceptor?" Then Lord Mahavir replied: "Oh, Gautama, by offering homage to the preceptor the soul loosens the fetters of karmas comprising of eight species, karmas of long duration asume the state of short duration, all the eight forms of karmas contracted with rigidity of intentions become karmas of loose intentions, karmas with wide regions contract their regions and such a soul stops its wandering in the endless and beginningless world". Thus the final reward of homages offered to the preceptor is salvation. First two phrases in the great Mantra refer to Gods and the rest three phrases refer to preceptor.
Fourth ornament is skill in performing rites. The great Gods have prescribed various rites for self-purification and for self progress. To show skill in these rites is the fourth ornament of right faith. How can soul be elevated if despite right knowledge there is no practice to that effect. Jain religion promises salvation only by simultaneous operation of knowledge and practice. Fifth ornament is visiting sacred places (Tirth-Sevan). Here the word Tirth includes moving to stable places of pilgrimage. Shri Shatrunjaya, Shri Girnar, Shri Abu etc. are stable places of pilgrimge whereas the selfless monks observing five great vows are moving pilgrimages. By resorting to sacred places and persons, glory or right faith spreads. The lay disciples should essentially go to holy places at least once in a year and so the scriptures plead that thereby a man becomes free from the daily routine of life and Lord Jina's worship is carried out with zeal and fervour.
FIVE CHARACTERISTICS
The revered authors' scriptures have laid down five characteristics of right faith.
