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THE ESSENCE OF JAINA SCRIPTURES
Then I bow before the other, former Tirthankaras, whose innate pure vision and knowledge may be compared to genuine gold, emerged from the fire, because they themselves are pure; and I bow before all the Siddhas and before the Shramanas, namely the Acharyas, the Upadhyayas and the Sadhus, who have reached the stage of the highest, pure psychic-attention (upayoga), because they are possessed of the practice of the exercises of knowledge, faith, conduct, penance and
energy.
3. I pay homage to all of them conjointly and individually, and to the Arbats (perfect souls) existing at present in the region inhabited by man.
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Thereafter, fixing my attention on the present time, I glorify all these five Parameshthins in their respective individualities, including the Tirtha-nayakas who now abide in the human region (manushyakshetra) - for, though at present no Tirthakaras abide in this region of ours (Bharat-kshetra), they do exist in the great Videha-country so then I venerate these Parameshthins collectively and separately with laudatory speech as it is taught by the Krtikarma-shastra, namely with the pronouncing of benedictions similar to those used at the time of their consecration in sainthood, which is the bridal day of the Glory of Deliverance.
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4. Having thus paid homage to the Arhats, Siddhas, Ganadharas (direct disciples of Tirthankaras), the groups of Adhyapakas (Teachers) and all the Sadhus (saints).
After having thus paid homage to the Arhats, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and all the Sadhus - a homage which, although it proceeds in the two-fold form of prostration (pranati) and the pronouncing of eulogies (vandana), still is one, in as much as every distinction between ourselves and others fades away in consequences of an intensive mutual union, resulting from the relation of object worshipped and worshipper.
5. And having approached their holy station, devoted primarily to purifying vision and knowledge, I rely upon the equanimity (samya) leading to nirvana.
And by abundance of purified knowledge and vision having approached the holy station of these Arhats, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and all Sadhus - which station leads to right vision (samyagdarshan) and right knowledge (samyag-jnana), both characterized by
