International Jain Conference 1985 3rd Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 187

is of no significance to you either; even then, remembering of your virtues purifies our mind of all dross.
Stavana is one of the twenty eight Mulagunas ordained for a Nirgranthamuni. Siddhabhatti, Yogibhatti, Titthayarabhatti and other few Bhattis in Prakrit are the Stavanas which, it can be said with certainty, have come down from very early times.
The Stavanas or Prayers of early times are generally free from such eulogies which speak of the power of either the Jinas or of Mantra itself to either ward off the miseries or award the desired objects to the worshipper, but simply give an expression to the merits or virtues of Jinas. However there arose gradually, one can observe, a tendency to attribute efficacy to the Jinas almost on similar lines with that of the religious systems which accept the principle of Almighty God. For instance Manatungacarya states : "Let alone be there your Stotra which is free from all blemishes, but even the utterances relating to you are capable of removing the miseries of the universe" Further again : "Those men who are broken by the terrible affliction of dropsy and have reached a sorrowful state, and have lost hopes to live further, will become as beautiful as Manmatha when they have their bodies smeared with the pollen dust of your lotus feet.”
However, such statements should be taken only in their mataphorical sense : Thought concentration on virtues of the Jina keeps the mind free from wickedness culminating in Dharmadhyana which in turn results in the acquisition of merit or Punya and this again in turn results in happiness; and as such the Jina is considered to be the indirect cause or Nimitta karana in the realisation of happiness.
Devapuja or worship of Jinadeva finds first place among the six essential religious acts ordained for a Jaina house-holder or Sravaka. The procedure of puja may be divided into three parts: viz., (1) Prastavika - preparatory. (2) AbhisekaAnointing and (3) Archna-adoration. A Sravaka shall, taking to his right side, get up from his bed early in the morning, sit facing the east, ponder over the miserable state ot mundane existence and then recite the Suprabhata Stotra. After this he shall attend to the call of nature choosing a place where no injury is caused to living beings. Then he shall take bath and perform Sandhya vandana and thereafter proceed to Jinabasadi i. e., temple reciting caityalaya stuti and observing Iryapatha - an act of taking care from causing injury to creatures on the path. Afterwards he shall, on reaching the temple, circumambulate it and then shall enter the temple and recite the Darasana stuti keeping his folded hands on his forehead. Next he shall do the samayika. Thereafter he shall recite Mangalastaka, and then take the Yajnadiksa or the vow worshipping the Jina. This shall be followed by Sakalikarana, an act of purifying one's own self and also of the materials of worship. Than the Nityamaha shall take place. To start with, demigods such as Ksetrapala, Vayukumara, Agnikumra and many others shall be invoked individually with a request lo render their service in the Abhiseka
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