________________
festival the religious people worship the qualities of soul through these attributes for ten days. By giving the worship of attributes of soul the form of a festival, special emphasis has been give to the concept of worship of virtues. All these ten virtues combined lead to liberation, they are, in fact, liberation itself. In social life also, acquiring these virtues makes a man ethical, unblemished, and magnanimous. These virtues or qualities are non-sectarian, universal, and timeless. The suffering humanity can be made happy and healthy with the help of these ten virtues. As such, it is the need of the time to promote this tenlimbed- religion with help of national media as well as various international platforms and fora. According to the scriptural evidences the end of the Dukhama-dukhamā (the last epoch of the present regressing cycle of time) will bring about devastating changes. Only these virtues can save humanity.
Kśamāvani This festival is celebrated one day after the conclusion of the Dasa Laksana parva of the Bhadrapada month on Aśvina kṛṣṇā first. On this day all religious people seek and grant forgiveness mutually for the mistakes committed by them. They embrace each other to express mutual love and affection. The ideal of this festival is expressed in this aphorism - I seek forgiveness from all beings. May all beings forgive me. All beings are my friends. I have animosity with
none.
-
The Kśamavani festival is the festival of universal love. If this were declared an international festival and the heads and leaders of antagonistic states sought mutual forgiveness it would certainly help avoiding political tension and wars. Kśamāvani festival can prove to effective in quenching the fire of rivalry among leaders and members of opposing political parties.
Aṣṭānhikā festival In the list of continents and seas the eighth continent is Nandiśvara Dvīpa. A set of 52 natural temples placed in a geometric pattern exists there. This festival is celebrated three times a year during the months of Aṣāḍha, Kārtika, and Falguna. During the bright fortnights of these months the festival dates are eighth to fifteenth. During this festival Indra and gods go to Nandiśvara Dvīpa and worship these natural temples. The fifty-two temples are set in a pattern of thirteen on all the four cardinal directions. These temples and their images are all natural (not man-made).
268
Jain Education International
-
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
