Essence of Jainism Part 02

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 81

Upashrays (a religious place) in order that "Karemi Bhante" can be said with a consent from a guru.
WHY A CHARAVALO ? Samayik or Pratikraman should be done while in a standing position and a broom like article Charavalo is kept so that no harm is caused to insects while gantly sweeping the place with charavalo. When used, it should be considered as a means for sweeping away the dust like karmas of soul.
KATASHANU : Samayik is to be done in a particular standing position assumed by one while milking a cow, if possible, or in a erect position. The Lord never sat on the ground after pronouncing Karemi Bhante. He kept standing or used to assume a position of milking a cow to overcome physical discomforts. He attained kevalgnan in that position; but since, our physical capacity for tolerance is limited, we sit on a Katashana. It is made of wool so that Six kinds of living organisms may not suffer. Katashanu indicates a certain compromise to laziness, as Samayik is recommended to be done standing. That is why we ask permission from Guru for sitting down for Samayik by saying "Besane Sandisahu" and "Besane Thau".
MUHAPATTI-PRATILEHKHANA : Muhapatti, a piece of cloth is kept in order to be careful while speaking. We breathe out warm air. We want to ensure that our warm breath should not touch and kill germs "badar" (visible) as well "Sukshma" (invisible). We keep Muhapatti to protect them from touching our hot breath.
Pratilekhna involves activities of carefulness and sweeping a thing to clean it. Hence, Muhapatti is a symbol for being extra careful in conduct for protecting living beings when in Samayik. It is also associated with noble way of monk's life.
Sweeping with Muhapatti, parts of the body is prescribed in Samayik to ensure both extra carefulness in activities of the body and in withdrawal of the mind from sinful activities and in redirecting it to the qualities of opposite nature. This is why rejection of negative aspect and affirmation of positive aspect is discerned from 50 words prescribed for Samayik, while handling Muhapatti, as described hereafter.
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