Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature

Author(s): Vasantkumar Bhatt, Jitendra B Shah, Dinanath Sharma
Publisher: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Smarak Nidhi Ahmedabad

Page 62

Yajña-Upavīta According to Jainism
S. A. Shirguppi
Introduction
Yajña-upavīta according to Jainism is the most sacred one and is of the three jewels namely the right belief, the right knowledge and the right conduct, which together constitute the path of liberation (सम्यग्दर्शनज्ञानचारित्राणि मोक्षमार्ग:). It is again of the nature of the speech of the Jinas and is a mark of the pious Soul. It is the main limb or the body of the house-holder's religion and is the seed of the religion of the Jinas. It is an ideal lamp of the path of liberation and is the root-form of the right deeds such as giving gifts or donations (GH) and worship etc. such yajña-upavīta is the most sacred one and is also called as Brahmasutra (TELE) which is worn by the house-holder. Essentially and carefully it is kept at the high place of the body (E A), while performing the activities like answering the calls of the nature (Strafausfifc), vomiting (247) and the sexual intercourse (97) etc. Concept : In one of the Sanskrit stanzas found in GH24979 it is said :
देवपूजा गुरोः सेवा दातिः स्वाध्यायसंयमौ ।
दयैतानि सुकर्माणि गृहिणाम् सूत्रधारिणाम् ।। The meaning thereby, 'In case of a house-holder, who wears a sacrificial thread has the following right deeds, namely, the worship of the Gods, service of the preceptor (saints), giving gifts or donations, study of the scriptures, selfcontrol and compassion towards living beings etc.
The house-holder who wears a sacrificial thread has to recite the following incantation (47) while wearing yajña-upavīta. The Sanskrit incantation is as follows:
ze - profilira-aita 74: | यज्ञोपवीतसंधारणं करोमि ।।