Jain Journal 2001 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 41

BRAHMESHANANDA : BHAKTI IN JAINISM
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number of similarities between the devotional practices of the two religions. At least six of the nine forms of the devotions described in the Srimad-Bhagavatamla are found in Jainism, viz., listening to and singing the glories of the Lord, meditation on Him, caressing the feet, worship, and bowing down. Däsya, sakhya and ātmanivedanam, or servitude, friendship and self-surrender are not found in Jainism, because they do not fit in with the philosophical concept of the adored Jina or Tirthankaras in Jainism.
Jain lay devotees perform worship of the image or the footprints of the Tirthankaras, the procedure for which is elaborately described in Jain texts. The image is first brushed clean with a special brush made of kusa straw. It is then bathed with scented water and dried with a clean fine cloth. Next sandal paste is applied and it is decorated with flowers, garlands and ornaments, Rice grains and fruits, fresh or dried, are then offered on an offering-table placed in front of the image. The rice grains are generally arranged in special designs that have specific symbolic meanings. Finally incense and lighted lamp are waved in front of the image with accompanying hymns, and the worship ends by salutations. Like the worship in Hinduism with five, ten, or sixteen items (pañca, daśa or sodasopacāra pūjā), in Jainism too there is the eightsold or seventeenfold worship (astaprakāri, saptadaśaprakāri). It is quite evident that this type of worship has entered into Jainism due to Hindu influence.
Singing of hymns is enjoined as one of the six essential duties of a Jain lay or monastic devotee. The Jain hymnal literature is voluminous. It is both in Sanskrt and Präkrta, and in recent times hymns and songs in the vernaculars also have been added. Some of these have become more popular and are sung by millions of Jains every day.
The Tirthańkara, the object of worship of a Jain votary-unlike the Hindu God, who is the all-powerful bestower of grace, fulfiller of desires, and destroyer of evil- is an illumined liberated soul, who is beyond praise and blame, who neither curses nor blesses, and who neither showers grace nor rewards or punishes his supplicants. What then is the idea behind singing hymns and glories of such an impartial witness? It is to purisy oneself by remembrance of the virtues and glories of the Lord that such hymns are sung. He represents the Ideal, the Goal, which the hymns flash afresh in the mind of the devotee. It
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Tavi di fawrt: TOP CHART अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ - the Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.5.23.