Jain Society Greater Atlanta 2008 11 Pratistha

Author(s): Jain Center of Greater Atlanta
Publisher: USA Jain Center Greater Atlanta

Page 36

6. Royal throne (Bhadrasan)
7. A pair of fish (Minyugul) 8. Mirror (Darpan)
The symbols are made using rice made out of gold or silver. After this, Indra Maharaja brings this Astha Mangal in a grand procession towards the Tirthankar. Darshan of the Astha Mangal is auspicious and earns good karma (Punya) and attracts positive energy. In this auspicious ritual of Astha Mangal Patla-Poojan, Asthaprakari Puja is performed.
a. Human beings
b. Heavenly beings
c. Hellish beings
d. Tiryanchs (rest of the living beings)
Ashtamangal (The eight auspicious sacred symbols hold and purification has taken place. deep spiritual significance for Jains):
1. Swastika: symbolizes four destinies.
The root of the Swastika is SU+US; SU means benefit and US means existence. So it also represents glory, prosperity, progress and success.
2. Shrivatsa: Symbolizes the endless cycle of re-birth. 3. Nandyavart: This is a big Swastika with nine corners. It indicates treasure of nine kinds of material, physical, mental and spiritual
4. Vardhamanak: Vardhaman means to increase. Vardhamanak symbolizes increase in wealth, health and most importantly, spiritual progress.
5. Kalash: Symbolizes all spiritual wealth. It symbolizes completeness of knowledge. Its mouth represents eternity, the throat-losing old mode and the base represents occupying new mode.
6. Bhadrasan: Also called Sinhasan, meaning throne. It is auspicious because it is sanctified by the feet of Lord Jina. 7. Minyugal: Symbolize beings rescued from the ocean of misery of earthly existence.
for the bathing of the Pratimajis while participants recite Mantras and auspicious aphorisms.
Bathing and purifying can be done with using ordinary water, but it is miraculously effective when done by the auspicious water. Abhishek is commenced by pouring a stream of the water at the masthak (head) of the Pratimaji and the participants pray wholeheartedly saying that way the water flows downwards is the way they want their karmas (wrong-doings) to be washed off. There should be a continuous flow of water until the Abhishek is completed
Adhar (Eighteen) Abhishek Puja (Eighteen oblations for purity): The direct translation of Abhishek is "coronation". Abhishek signifies the cleansing of the mind and body as a way to begin Puja. Abhishek Puja is performed for the purification of altar, Pratimajis and participants. The process involves using eighteen different substances (containing different kinds of pure water, herbs and some special substances) while reciting the auspicious aphorisms and Mantras. It involves cleaning of the altar by sprinkling the water, which has undergone auspicious Mantras, in all directions and cleaning of the Pratimajis. Several kalashes (pots) of this auspicious water are used
It has been said that Abhishek has such powers that many diseases are washed off. Shripal Raja and 700 lepers were cured from leprosy when they bathed in the auspicious water and had performed Abhishek.
This is the relevance of Abhishek Puja, an auspicious and beneficial ritual performed compulsorily during the Pratistha of Pratimajis in a temple.
Shri Laghu Nandavarta Poojan: The word Nandavarta is derived from the two words "Nandi" and "Avarta". Nandi means knowledge; one prakirnak sutra called Nandi Sutra contains a detailed description of knowledge mentioned in Jainism. Avarta means circles. Our souls are covered with futile karmic bondages of knowledge. We are offering this Poojan with systematic approach to remove them. Shree Nandavarta is a bigger form of our common Swastika or Sathiyo. Its four open directions show us the four Gatis. By offering Pujas and performing Poojan of various auspicious elements present in the Yantra, we request them to provide us Samyag Gyan, Darsha and Charitra so that we can attain Moksha. Knowledge is the prominent subject at the time of Desna (Vitraag Vaani- discourse) in Samovsaran. It is connected with Gyananatishaya of Tirthankars and this is an exclusive quality and property of Tirthankars. There is a Puja of the 291 Samyagdrasti gods and goddesses who
8. Darpan: Symbolizes true self. True self is our own soul. are invited at the Pratistha.
There are 15 circles overlapping each other in Nandavarta Yantra. The Poojan is done on the Yantra of Nandavarta. There is one large Mandal formatted with uncooked rice. The image of the presiding Tirthankar, which will be established later on the Jinalaya, is established in the Center part of the Mandal. Furthermore, all other images of the Tirthankars that will be established in Jinalaya are kept by calling their names, with due respect and proper offering of the Puja with Vasskhepa, Chandan (Sandalwood) and flowers. This is followed by Puja and Poojan of Kshetrapal, Isan Indra, Sakrendra on the left hand side of the Mandal. Proceeding further in Poojan, Pujas are offered to Goddess