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The verse to be recited at the time of making a swastik.
चिहुंगति भ्रमण संसारमां, जन्म मरण जंजाल, पंचम गति विण जीवने, सुख नहि तिहुं काल.
दर्शन, ज्ञान, चारित्रना, आराधनाथी सार, सिद्धशिलानी उपरे होजो, मुज वास श्रीकार.
WHY A SWASTIK IS CHOSEN ? The above four states of existence (gatis) are full of miseries. We are born, get old and die. Nobody feels happy. In order to overcome these miseries, we should realise Darshan, (True Faith), Gnan(True Knowledge) and Charitra (good conduct). These are the original three attributes of the soul. But since these attributes are obscured by karmas, it is necessary to uncover them. This is how we shall move towards liberation. Hence, the design of swastik is drawn to ever remember our aim of salvation. Rice-swastik should be drawn while reflecting on its significance on above lines to derive full merit.
WHY SWEETS (NAIVEDTYA) ? We are born with our bodies. Body requires food for its nourishment. We must eat in order to live. Emancipated souls have nobody and hence, they never require food. It is a food less (Anahari) state. We put offering of sweets on the swastik to aspire for this state of foodlessness (Anahari Pada).
WHY IS FRUIT OFFERED ? The fifth state of soul is liberation. To get abode in Siddhshila as a fruit of our worship of Jina. We put a fruit on the Siddhashila drawn upon a swastik made by us, to express our desire for liberation.
WHY THE MIRROR WORSHIP ? We look into a mirror to see the face of the Idol as Lord Vitraga (free from attachment), so that we may also reach the state of non-attachment like HIM.
दर्पणथी निज रुपनो, जुए सुद्रष्टिरुप, दर्पण अनुभव अर्पण, ज्ञाानरमण मुनिभूप
WHY CHOWRI PUJA ? We dance while swaying the chowri before the idol to show our love, respect and devotion to our Lord.
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