Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 49

Bhoomi Poojan - Khanan Vidhi
Usually the first ceremony is that of ground breaking, known as Bhoomi Poojan - Khanan Vidhi. This whould be followed some days later by the foundation stone laying ceremony called the Shilanyasvidhi.
The land is first inspected and its soil tested for suitability for the proposed structure. The time of Bhoomi Poojan - Khanan Vidhi is then carefully fixed with the help of astrological and astronomical texts throug learned pundits. Preparations are made, invitations are sent.
The actual ceremony cum ritual involves the paying of homage to the land and after prayers asking the land for permission to disturb its natural state for construction work. Such is the reverence Jainism holds for nature !
Shilanayas
It is interesting to know that when a temple is being built, the devotees perform a foundation laying ceremony called Shilaropan with a square slab of stone. The slab has nine squares etched on it, with nine different figures carved in each square which are illustrated in the picture above. The figures are mostly ocean creatures.
The middle square has a tortoise on it, so it is called
kurma (tortoise) shila (slab). The temple is constructed upon this slab with the belief that the construction of the temple will be completed without any hindrance and it will be able to face the weather & effect of the time.
The foundations are first dug and within them at a key location usually a primary load bearing pillar, or in the case of a temple the area directly below the garbhagruha and enthroned image, a deeper hole is dug. Again an auspicious time is selected and preparations are made.
The ceremony is specifically designed to remove any evil influences that may permeate the land. The land is purified. Who can guess what atrocities and crimes had been performed on the selected land in the past!
The architect, engineer, builder and others involved in the construction work descend into the foundations and in accompaniment to the chanting of Sacred verses deposit sanctified sacraments in the special hole. A small pot also containing various sacraments is placed in the hole. Holy water is sprinkled over the entire site. As with the khatmuhurt, homage is paid and building permission is asked for. Hewn stones or bricks are then laid in the hole pointing in the eight cardinal directions.
Birds, animals and insects that would be affected by the construction are asked for forgiveness and requesting them to locate the new place! Finally, the architects, engineers and builders are given homage, for it is believed the represent Vishvakarma, the supreme builderarchitect of the heaven.
The khatmuhurt and shilanyasvidhi are not practices begun by a primitive mind millennia ago and today faithfully supported by a superstitious mind cloaked with modernity. The ceremones: (1) Express clear understanding that the environment to be changed is not the exclusive property of an individual human, but is also the home of various other life forms.
(2) An awareness is created that nature is a complex dynamic ecosystem and man is to live harmoniously with this wonder created by God.
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