Essence of Pratikramana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Gnan Mandir Publication

Page 7

has become an annual ritual for most of the Jains. They do not understand the meaning of the text. They blindly observe this 3 hour ritual and at the end of the ritual say "Michchami Dukkadam" to each other (May my faults be destroyed, be forgiven). This is a very good way of forgetting old bad behaviour of each other and saying 'sorry' in a most systematic way. People this way do not just say 'sorry' to their past and present friends but to the smallest living beings in this universe and to almighty God also. Nowadays Jains send 'Michchami Dukkadam' cards to each other as well.
I have selected most of the verses for English translation. The following is a short form of the original Pratikramna, but it preserves all the main hymns. This version is small because it avoids repetitions.
I wish to maintain that this Pratikramna text and new ritual is advocated in the interest of people who do not understand the original text and who are eager to know the ancient Jain ritual in its proper form.
This, I believe, will teach the fundamental principles of Jainism, to all those who are interested.
What follows now is not the complete and literary translation of all the Sutras but an "Essence of Pratikramna".
-Vinod Kapashi