ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 112

Jains do perform puj or s m yika to start and end the day properly. If we study these festivals deeply, we shall see their relevance to the karma theory and the ethical postulates of Jains.
2.2.1 Event oriented: Akşaya trity
It is an annual festival celebrated on the third day of the bright fortnight of the month of Bai kha. Bhagav na din tha, the first trtha kara of Jains did not take any food for the first six months (?) of his monk hood, as no body knew how to offer food to the monks. It is said that he reached Hastin pura where King reyansa, through the remembrances of his earlier lives, knew how to offer the food and hence offered sugarcane juice properly to din tha. He accepted it and then taught the laity the manner and the importance of giving food to the monks in particular and CHARITY in general. Since then this day is celebrated as a festival, especially at Hastin pura. Lot of Jains keep extended fasts prior to this day, then go with their family to Hastin pura and let the new members of the family offer them sugarcane juice so that the tradition of offering food to the elders in the family
continues.
ruta pancami
2.2.2 Event oriented: After the emancipation of Lord Mahavira, the Jain canonical knowledge in the form of twelve limbs was getting lost due to the declining memory and laxity of conduct of the monks. So c rya Dharsena, around 1st century BC, while meditating at mount Girn ra in Gujarat and having partial knowledge of the most difficult and detailed twelfth limb, called Driştiv da or Jain philosophy, felt that this knowledge may even get either lost or distorted after his death. So he called two most intelligent monks from South India, taught them all the knowledge he had and asked them to compile it in the form of a book so that it could be available to everybody in unchanged form. These two monks, known as Puspa Dant and Bhootbali completed this canonical text, known as Satkhand gama of Digambara Jains, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month Jyestha. Since then this day is celebrated as ruta pancami by Digambara Jains.
2.2.2 Event oriented: Diwali
This is the festival, known as festival of lights and all communities in India celebrate it. Indians celebrate Diwali like Christmas is by Christian. However we find little mention of this festival in Hindu literature even though they say that Lord R ma, after defeating King R va a of Lanka and completing fourteen years of exile returned to Ayodhy. The people in Ayodhy celebrate his return by lighting their homes etc.
The Jain canonical literature and religious stories narrate this festival at great length. On this day, i.e. the last day of the dark fortnight of the month K rtika, Lord Mah v ra attained Nirv a and his principal disciple Indrabhuti Gautam attained omniscience. For Jains, festivals have a different connotation. In as much as they are celebrations, yet the main objective is long term accomplishment of Bliss and not just momentary pleasures. Jains consider Mokşa or Nirv a as the supreme wealth to be attained. Accordingly on that night Jains saw the town P v puri (in modern Bihar) lit by the divine light. Since then they burn earthen lamps (as the divine light is gone) and perform puj of the two states i.e. ultimate wealth Nirv a and ultimate knowledge omniscience. Over the period of time, Hindus replaced these virtues by their own goddesses Laksmi for wealth and Ganesa for knowledge.
Jains start the day by going to the temple, worshipping Lord Mah vra and offer laddus, perform puj at home or their business establishment, offer gifts to their family members and business associates and start new books of accounts etc. They decorate their home; make a special place for puj where photo or replica of Lord Mah vira and his religious conference (samo ara a) is made using toys, statues of kings, animals and the holy pedestal. They also lighten up their homes and establishments as a mark of their happiness.
2.2.3 Mah v ra Jayanti
13th day of The Hindu month Caitra bright fortnight is the day celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mah vra. The day starts with group puj of Lord Mah vra, followed by exchange of pleasantries, community lunch etc. A procession of Lord Mah vra's idol is taken with pomp and show through the streets to spread his message of non-violence, holding seminars on the life and teachings of Lord
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