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JAINA CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY PENTAD
declaring and affirming faith, belief and conviction in the doctrines and practices of Jainism.
This is the mantra imparted to those who embrace Jaina faith; the conversion ceremony begins with the recitation and repetition of this formula. He who takes refuge in the Jina and his path is initiated into this sacred litany and he chants it in reverent salutation to the five holy beings. The method of chanting is devotional, reverential and musical.
The polarity between the ascetic members (muni, śramaṇa, sadhu) and lay members of Jaina community is quite pronounced, but this formula transcends this polarity as it is recited by all the followers of Jainism, ascetics and laity alike. This is the usual prayer repeated by every pious Jaina, and the most of the munis and śrāvakas often meditate on this sacred formula.
Commenting on this formula, Dr. Williams has made the following observation :
"This supreme prayer, this best object of meditation, serves as a quarry for magic formulae of varying lengths and different potency, thirty-five-syllables-or sixtyeight if the complementary verse is added-are counted in the full namaskara (sarvākşara-mantra) but various abbreviations, of which the most popular is the use of the initial akşara of five paromesthins (mukhyākṣara-mantra), are employed to give totals. of sixteen, six, five and two aksaras. The whole nämaskāra can also be concentrated in the single syilable on which is held to be a contraction of the mukhyākṣara-mantra, siddha being replaced by asarlra and sadhu by muni to give a, a, a, u, m. Audibly muttered in an unending repetition, these formulae play an important part in the pada-stha-dhyana. This practice of japa is accompanied by the telling of the beads, which may be of gold or gems or merely of lotus seeds.
49
"The recitation of the pañca-namaskara, the aparajita-mantra as it is styled, comes to be synonymous with acceptance of Jaina creed and it is with this prayer on his lips that the pious layman should wake each morning. Twice a day at the morning and evening twilights he is to meditate on the excellent protection derived from it."48
As is usual in the case of several sacred formulae or mantras of Vedic, Buddhist, Saiva, Šakta, Vaisnava or Tantrika origins and affiliations, great magical and supernormal powers are associated with pañca-namaskāra-mantra. Mantras have played an important role not only in mysticism and religious rituals but also in magical or
48.
Jaina Yoga, p. 185.
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