ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 349

features of va yakas for monks but emphasis is given on simple Dos on a daily basis e.g. Caturvi atistva is included in Devap j and S m yika in Sa yama and Tapa.Most of the Digambara householders do perform S m yika also in the morning before going for Devap j
3.1 Performing S m yika
S m yika has certain pre-requisites i.e. the person indulging in it should have right belief in Tattv ratha, practice equanimity and self control else it becomes just a show due to the practitioner's inability to control his mind, body, speech. Only a person who is aware and conscious of self-restraint, vows, austerities and soul can perform S m yika. Further the person should be able to win over the afflictions (pari ahas) else he will get distracted during Sm yika. Various steps involved are enumerated below.6
1. The practitioner should make himself free from all householder duties and nature's call, clean his body by washing his hands, feet and face or taking a bath and put on light and comfortable cloths, tie his hair etc so that he is free from all bodily distractions.
2. He should then select a place, which is clean, free from disturbances like noise, mosquitoes, family members or others coming and going or performing other activities and is the place is neither cold nor hot.
3. While standing in k yotsarga posture i.e. standing facing north and hands hanging down and seven centimeters away from the body, legs about 10 centimeters apart; he takes a vow to be in S m yika for 48 minutes (ideal or the time he deems fit) and leaves all his mental, speech and bodily activities.
4. He then recites Navk ra nine times silently and bows his head with his hands folded and moving them in clockwise direction three times. He performs this routine facing each of the four directions. Then he sits in k yotsarga posture.
5. He then recites Navak ra with auspicious (mA gala) and dedication (ara ama) verse; pratikraman (locan) sutra, S m yika p tha, tiratha kara vanad na and finally takes a vow to observe self-restraint during the day completes the S m yika.
Normally S m yika should be done individually but due to difficulty in concentrating the mind on various mantras etc in S m yika, there are group S m yika in special places where the practitioners recite all the verses in a very low pitch so as not to disturb each other.
As S m yika has a special place in the religious activities of all Jains, tremendous literature abounds having description, holy poems, methods etc to be used. Some of them are: Bhadrab hu-II has detailed S m yika in va yaka Sutra; Jinabhadra Ga i wrote Vi e va yaka especially on S m yika, all literature concerning ethics and practice of Jains detail S m yika, S m yika P tha7 by Amit Gati Suri and a book S m yika k Saundarya by Dr. Mukesh astri detailing various p thas /poems and dedicated to S m yika.
4.0 S m yika as ik vrata, Pratim for Householders
ik vratas are the third stage of vows for householders, which are observed to prepare the householder to live like a monk. So by definition, they require a definite regimen of practice several times during the day. Posture of the body, time period and its frequency i.e. morning, afternoon and evening and duration are adhered to. Also while performing, after the recitation of mantras and verses, the practitioner needs to contemplate on self and its uniqueness compared to other types of substances and its own nature. Also there are flaws identified, which the practitioner is required to remove while performing it. So as ik vrata, it is more disciplined and rigorous. Also the practitioner at this stage has already achieved a higher level of spiritual purification and is almost ready practicing equanimity all the time like a monk as away of life.
Sm yika as Pratim is as the 2nd Pratim (out of eleven stages of spiritual development for householders prior to becoming a monk). Thus the householder, who has accepted this pratim, performs (as by monks) veneration of the omniscient and S m yika simultaneously. Posture of the body, time period (minimum 48 minutes per practice) and its frequency i.e. morning, afternoon and evening and duration are strictly adhered to.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0