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Mantras and 'My Prayer' (Meri Bh van by Pt. J. K. Mukhatara)
Dr. Shugan C. Jain
Jains have a number of mantras, which both the laity and monks use regularly to meditate on and observe as a ritual to take themselves away from daily routine and pay respects to the auspicious beings or to pray for fulfillment of their desires. The most potent mantras of Jains are called Navak ra and Cat h ara a that is common to all sets and shades of Jains. The main difference between Jain mantras and others is that Jains pay obeisance to the virtues and the people who have either become virtuous or are practicing the path of spiritual purification on a full time basis to become virtuous. In this paper we shall understand the two mantras by Jains and their significance.
Similar to mantras, Jains have a very popular prayer, which is sung or recited either individually or in groups almost daily. The basis of such prayers is the Jains belief in autosuggestions and contemplations to purify their thought, mind and attain beneficence. Pandit Jugal Kishore Mukhtar had beautifully composed Meri Bh van or my prayer. It has a collection of eleven verses of 4 lines each in simple and easy to understand in Hindi language. These eleven verses can be identified to convey the following suggestions for self as well as for the benefit of others.
Verse Content
Identify the true nature of auspicious/ supreme beings Nature of the true monks /spiritual leaders Suggestion to myself for self improvement
Do
Do
Do Selflessness Equanimity Prayer/ expectations from others. Do Benefits of the prayer.
9 10 11
In this prayer we will find our involvement in worldly affairs in a righteous way as well as maintaining a distance from the same so as not to be too involved in them.
Mantras Navak ra: amo arihant am Obeisance to the perfect beings with body amo siddh ama Obeisance to the liberated souls amo yariyama Obeisance to the heads of congregation amo uvajjh y ama Obeisance to the holy teacher monks amo loye savves hu ama Obeisance to all the holy monks
Cat h ara as: Catt ri ma gala, arhanta ma gala , siddha ma gala. Sahu ma gala kevalipa atto dhammo ma gala
Catt ri log ttama, arahanta log ttam, siddha log ttama, sahu logg ttama, kevalipa atto dhammolog ttamo.
Catt ri sara a pavvajj mi. Arahanta sara a pavvajj mi. Siddhe sara a pavvajj mi, sahu sara a pavvajj mi, kevalipa atto dhammo sara a pavvajj mi.
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