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Pratikraman - Observance of Self-Reflection
Six Ävashyak Jainism believes that from time immemorial, every soul has assumed a distorted and impure nature. Anger, ego, deceit, and greed arising out of attachment and aversion are the soul's impurities. To remove such impurities, Jainism has prescribed certain practices known as Avashyaka (essential practices) to be performed regularly. These practices free the human mind from negative thoughts of attachment and aversion and enhance the soul's spiritual progress ultimately leading to liberation. Ancient Jain literature defines six such activities of which Pratikramana is defined as the 4th Avashyak to be performed daily.
Pravin K. Shah education@jaina.org
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The six practices are: 1. Sämäyika 2. Chaturvimshati-Stava 3. Vandana 4. Pratikraman 5. Käyotsarga 6. Pratyäkhyana / Pachchakhana
Equanimity Devotional Prayer Respecting Ascetics Repentance and Confession of sins Non-attachment to the Body Religious Vows
Pravin K. Shah is a founding member of
Jain Study Center of North Carolina.
He is the chairperson of JAINA Education Committee
and advisor to
YJA and YJP youth organizations. He is also a member of the
Harvard University Pluralism Project Advisory Council.
He is a Jain scholar and activist against
animal cruelty.
He has published several articles and books on Jain philosophy, cruelty to animals, and Comparative religions. He offers a two-day workshop on Jainism to prepare Jain Sunday school teachers. JAINA website www.jaina.org contains significant
information of Jainism.
Pratikraman "Prati" means "back" and "kraman" means "to go", i.e. to go back, to reflect and review, to confess and atone for transgressions of mind, body, and speech in one's daily activities. In other words, it means returning to and reaffirming the path of nonviolence, truthfulness, and non-attachment. Pratikraman means sincerely confessing and repenting for our faults, forgiving faults of others, asking for forgiveness from others for one's own transgressions, and extending friendship to all. The Pratikraman ritual is included in many original texts (Sutras) written in Ardha-Magadhi and Sanskrit languages. These Sutras consist of many hymns in praise of Tirthankaras and many verses of repentance, confession, and requests for forgiveness.
Among the two traditions of Jain community, namely; Shvetämbar and Digambar, both Murtipujak and Sthänakaväsi branches of Shvetämbar sect perform six essential practices daily. Monks and nuns of these two branches must perform these rituals in accordance with the tradition. Devoted Jain laypeople staunchly observe these rituals while others practice them occasionally.
It is recommended that Pratikraman be done twice a day, once in the morning called Räi Pratikraman and once in the evening called Devasi Pratikraman. The morning Pratikraman is for the atonement of transgressions incurred during the night and the evening Pratikraman is for the transgressions of the day. There is provision for fortnight (Pakkhi), once every four months (Chaumäsi), and yearly (Samvatsari) Pratikraman observances, if one is unable to comply with the daily Pratikramans. The annual Pratikraman that all Jains should strive to observe is called Samvatsari Pratikraman. The
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