Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 47

Repent And Renew
prepare oneself
correct frame of mind
for pratikraman.”
This will help your concentration and you won't get up then he attains the stage of pratikraman. before finishing the whole ritual. Moreover, the verses you
These simple sentences speak volumes about the recite will help you to achieve a perfect state of mind.
pratikraman and the lessons we can learn from this age-old In one of the sutras we say the following words: ritual. There are different types of pratikraman rituals. But Thanenam, monenam, zanenam appanam vosirami. This is in any pratikraman the first thing one does is the process of very significant. It translates as follows: We attain a state taking a samayika. One has to perform this ritual by of calm whilst sitting in one place (thanenam), whilst reciting ten sutras or verses of samayika. This way you are observing silence (monenam), and
preparing yourself for the ritual. while doing meditation (zanenam).
Once the samavika is taken you start We also say, “My soul attains the
pratikraman without getting up or state of separateness from my body."
"One should
moving, keeping one's guru as a (appanam vosirami). This
witness. One can do this by keeping summarises the process in very
a religious book on a bookstand simple terms. The tools are
(chapdo) as a substitute for a real thanenam, monenam and zanenam. mentally and be in the guru or teacher. Daily pratikramans The goal is giving up all bodily
are of two types: one is observed in activities including bad thoughts and
the morning (rayashi) and the other freeing your soul (appanam
in the evening (devasi). There is a vosirami).
slightly longer ritual observed every A short verse, called Iriya
fortnight (pakhkhi) and one which is Vahiya is significant in terms of
observed every four month remembering all types of living
(chaumasi). Lastly, the longest one beings and asking for forgiveness. This reminds us about is the annual pratikraman, which takes more than three how we treat our animals and how we deal with environ- hours (samvatsari pratikraman). This is full of good mental problems:
prayers and sutras related to confessions for general faults
in our lives. Most Jains only do this last pratikraman, at the "I wish to retract from sins.
end of the Paryushan festival. Whatever types of living being I might have destroyed
On the last day of the festival Jains get together in a While walking
religious assembly. One or two elders recite sutras and While attacking
guide the people how pratikraman can be done. After the While crushing
ritual people meet and greet each other and say Michchami On dews
Dukkadam to each other. This means, "please forgive me In ant-holes
for any mistakes or faults that I may have committed." In water
The very essence of the ritual lies in forgiving others In clay
and begging forgiveness for any wrong doings. It is not In cob-webs
easy to ask forgiveness. Sometimes it requires courage. While cleaning or brushing
Criticising one's own bad thoughts and deeds means one Whatever types of lives I might have destroyed
must be humble. It is the way one can spread love and Those with one sense
ultimately achieve peace within oneself and peace on this Those with two senses
earth. Those with three senses
Khamemi savva jive, savve jiva khamantu me: Mitti me Those with four senses
savva bhueshu, veram majjah na kenai. "I forgive all living Those with five senses
beings. Let all beings forgive me. I have friendship with all I might have kicked them, rolled them, covered them, and malice or quarrel with none." Wouldn't it be good if we assembled them, touched them, separated them from their could all recite these words on a daily basis? own kinds, or killed them. In connection of all these things May my sins or faults be forgiven."
There is another good phrase in the Pratikraman sutra: Nindami, garihami, appanam vosirami. The observer of the ritual says that he criticises all his bad thoughts and deeds (nindami). But that is not enough, he also says that he confesses in front of his guru or any elder (garihami) and
Dr. Vinod Kapashi is a writer and promoter of Jainism based in London. He has written several books and taught a large number of students.
September - November 2002. Jain Spirit 45 For Private & Personal Use Only