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A Hand Book of Jainology
Prakari, (the eight kinds of worship). This is worship offered by means of substances; (3) After that the Bhavapuja has to be carried out; glorification of the Lord, Chaityavandan, adoring the virtues of the Lord etc., are called the Bhavapuja. (5) Contemplating on the states of the Lord (Avasthachintan). After performing the worship with substances, you must carry out this activity. Men should stand to the right side of the Lord and women to the left. Standing thus, they should contemplate on the three states of the Lord namely, his Pindastha avastha, Padastha avastha and his Rupastha avastha. (Existence in the body). In contemplating on the Lord's Pindastha avastha, you must contemplate on his Janmavastha, Rajyavastha, and Shramanavastha as described below :
JANMAVASTHA: Oh Lord; when you attained birth as a Thirthankar, all the 56 Dikkumaris (Goddesses of directions) and the 64 Indras performed oblations to you. How tremendous was your greatness even at the time of your birth; yet O Lord; there was not even a grain of pride in you. Your sublimity is blessed; Oh supreme Lord; you had the status of a Prince; you attained the highest kind of princely power and grandeur. Yet you were not attached to them even to the slightest extent. You had no attachments or hatred regarding them. You were like a Yogi who is absolutely detached. Blessed is your renunciation.
SHRAMANAVASTHA : Oh heroic Lord; You renounced the Samsar which abounded in grandeur treating it as equal to a dry blade of grass and became a sadhu and carried out heroic endeavours for the attainment of spiritual elevation, bearing with the bitterest kind of impediments and calamities. At the time, you carried out incomparable and arduous spiritua' austerities and penance. You stood for days on end absorbed in deep meditation. Acting thus you destroyed all the terrible karmas. Oh blessed hero !
PADASTHA AVASTHA: This means the state of the Thirthankar. You must carry out these contemplations relating to the Lord's status as a Thirthankar. You acquired the 34 specialities and became Arihant Thirthankar. (1) There surged from your lips the cataract of spiritual sermons on Tatvas
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