Jain Journal 2005 10

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

Page 15

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XL. NO. 20CTOBER 2005
Wearing sandal paste on the head, neck, chest and arms are followed by one tradition of the Jains. They also wear the holy thread. it is explained in the folk verse like this :
What to speak of the one going to temple, Sandal paste on the forehead and chest, He is going to temple with all cheers!'
Going to places of pilgrimage is another tradition followed by the Jains. The following folk verse describes the posture of a devotee who is climbing down the Shravana Belagola hill
Who is that returning on the Belagola hill The fatty one wearing the dhoti! He
Is returning after darśana'. The is another custom among the Jains, specially those in north Karnataka that the Jaina housewives should not wear new bangles on Friday. There is a song related to 'bangle wearing by goddess Padmāvatī', in which she happens to face allegations for wearing bangles on Friday. The narrative song goes on describing that the goddess Padmāvati crushed the bangles, cursed the bangle seller, and then he pleged to observe certain vows throughout the life and then she blessed him to maintain his properties and peace in life. Even today, many Jain ladies do not wish to wear new bangles on Friday.
There are certain other beliefs related to listening and learning of songs. At the beginning of every long narrative folksongs prevailing among the Jains, these beliefs are expressed. These beliefs are the following. 1) “Nobody should go to sleep or doze while
Listening a song. That leads to utter sin”. 2) If any body wishes to listen the song and requests
one who knows the song should not reject it. That is the great sin”. "If you know the meaning, tell as much as you can. If you don't know it, even then simply sit on the floor And listen to the song".