Jain Center Columbia SC 1997 05 Mahavira Swami Murti Pratistha

Author(s): Jain Center Columbia SC
Publisher: USA Jain Center Columbia SC

Page 17

that. Also now a days so many chemicals are being released to the rivers, where the fish are breeding and they would be infected with so many chemicals and those fish are brought to the market and sold. Obviously the person who consumes them, would get affected.
People who eat non - veg, argue that vegetarian food does not give strength. I don't think that is true. If you see in the animal world, we will find that there are so many strong animals, like elephants, horses, camels, which are vegetarian. There are so many vegetarian food which gives lot of strength. Fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, cereals, milk are all strength providing foods and source of all the nutrients. Lastly I would like the people who eat non vegetarian to visualize their own child who is playing so cheerfully with you and then think about the baby animal who was playing cheerfully with its family and is now in their plates in front of them, ready to be eaten by them. I am sure if they have any God fearing element, any health consciousness, any kindness left, they will stop taking meat and follow vegetarianism for good.
Worship is of two kinds. It can be worship in the presence of an image or alternatively worship of God without any image. The latter is regarded as a higher form of worship but for most people like us, it is valuable to have a physical representation of the God before our eyes. It focuses attention and the mind and spirit are immediately directed to the object of worship, instead of wandering loosely around, failing to center in the object and act of worship. The lump of stone is not itself God but is sacred symbol of the God. The idol of Lord Mahavira in our temple, represent the embodied "Arihanta" state or Tirthankar. Such installation is know as PRAN-PRATISTHA. It is a sacred ceremony and has to be undertaken with all serenity, because there by we intend to incorporate in the idols the attributes of Arihantas (The perfect human being).
PRAN - PRATISTHA - THE GREAT OCCASSION
The rituals put order and structure into worship, again focusing the devotions of the faithful. The beauty of the Mantra and music, with the beauty of the image and its setting, inspire in the devotee the beauty of religious faith and worship. Hence worship should be performed with due and proper ceremony, with proper preparation and with full understanding.
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NOTABLE QUOTES
• Violence in thought, indulging in violence, abetting violence by others and to contemplate violence is a sin.
- BHAGWAN MAHAVIRA Whosoever eats flesh of an animal is actually eating his own flesh himself. - JESUS CHRIST
• One who desires to increase his own meat by consuming meat of others will never be able to live in peace wherever he might be born.
- MAHABARAT