Jain Journal 2002 10

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

Page 47

JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XXXVII. NO. 2 OCT. 2002
offering annahuti, samidhāhuti, ājyāhuti, lavangāhuti, and pūrṇāhuti while pauṣṭikä hōma consists in ājyāhuti, samudāhuti, lavangāhuti, annahuti and puṇyahuti thought the number of offerings differs, the purpose of both the homa rituals is similar.
"Agni Puja" is the concept which has come down from the carly man. Early man considered Agni as the form of sakti or power. This concept continued and according to each religious belief and process, agni might have become a dicty of worship. In Indian mythology and classics one finds many occasions where man has considered agni as holy, divine and beneficent.
The concept of agni in Jain scriptures can be visualised and understood from some agni stuti (Pratisthätilaka composed by Śri Nemicandra).
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"I sing in praise of Agni who is the embodiment and symbol of ratnatrayasankalpa which helps to mokṣa and reach Heaven.
"I prostrate before Agni who emanated from the mind of Agnindra who are praised and reverenced after the nirvāņa of Tīrthankaras and who steers the boat of life and helps me to free myself from mundane shackles."
"I bow with reverence to Dakṣiņāgni, i, e, agni who burns the physical bodies of Kevalis who have destroyed karma through dhyāna and adhyayana."
"I bow with reverence before Ahavaniya Agni who burnt to ashes the physical bodies of Ganadharas through various Yama-Niyama forms of Agni".
From the above the concept of Agni among Jain community is clear and explicit.
There is Sankalpa pratiṣṭhāpana of ratnatraya in Agni. There is right vision, right knowledge and right conduct in the setting up of hōma kundas. Apart from this agnikunda is considered holy and sacred on the belief that it is the power/sakti which has burnt the physical bodies of arahantas, ganadharas and sāmānya kevalis. Ratnatrayas destroy the evils of karma and these agnikundas are believed to be symbolic of the same.
Agni is considered to be the force or Sakti which destroys the evils of karma and also the physical body.
It appears that Homa ritual among the Jains was widely practised during the life time of acarya Jinasēna. It was prevalent that the purohitas performed Yajña-Yāgas for the welfare and prosperity of