Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature

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

Page 71

Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature
sacred formula of five-fold obeisance "Panca-namaskāra-stuti?!” The five-fold obeisance22 :
namo arihantānam / namo siddhānam / namo āyariyāņam / namo uvajjhāyaṇam / namo loe savvasāhūnam/
Prof. Padmanabh S. Jaini translates the aforesaid obeisance2. I bow before the worthy ones (Arhats)—the Jina;
I bow before the perfected beings (Siddhas) those who have attained mokşa;
I bow before the (mendicant) leaders (ācāryas) of the jaina order;
I bow before the (mendicant) perceptors (upādhyāyas);
I bow before all (the Jaina) mendicants (sādhus) in the world;
This five-fold obeisance, destroys all the sin and is the most prominent of all the best auspicious (mangala) things24. This is also considered as an integral part of the five-fold Paramesthi-namaskāra-mantra.
The pañca namaskāra mantra invocation for the sake of protection against danger is very much employed25. The five-fold obeisance constitutes the sacred hymn (stotra), the litanical formulae of frequent silent repetition (Japa), the auspicious theme of meditation (mantra), the symbol of spiritual blessings (mangala) having sanctity and authority of the revealed world26. The question is often raised that in Panca Namaskāra the first to be invoked are Arhats and not the Siddhas who are superior to the former in their spiritual state. Pt. Sukhlal observes, 'the two (Arhat and Siddha) are the orders of att: object. One is Pūrvānupūrvi and other Paścānupūrvi. Referring to the smaller after the greater one, is Pūrvānupūrvi and to the greater after the smaller is Paścānupūrvi. The Purvānupūrvi order in salutation is resorted to here for this reason. From the point of view of annihilation of karma, Siddhas are superior tu Arihants. Yet both are equal from the point of view of fulfilment (perfection). From the point of view of worldly dealing or practical point of view, Airhanta is superior to Siddha. This is because the indirect form of Siddha is revealed to us by Arihanta. The Airhantas are, therefore, looked upon as superior and saluted first27.