Jain Spirit 2003 06 No 15

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

Page 47

FORGIVENESS, LIGHT AND LIBERATION
have been inspired by the presence of the mendicants. The procession then returns to the temple and the people go home in a festive mood.
Devout Jain laypeople observe Vira-Nirvana by undertaking a twenty-four-hour fast, spending this time in meditation. It is considered highly meritorious to keep vigil throughout this holy night, especially at the actual site of Mahavir's Nirvana. Those who cannot make the pilgrimage perform a memorial worship in their local temple by lighting lamps in front of an image of Mahavir. This solemn service takes place early in the morning of the next day, the first day of the waxing moon of Karttika, prior to the breaking of the day-long fast. The ceremony concludes with a public recitation of an ancient hymn addressed to all 'liberated beings' (siddhas), including Mahavir: "Praise to the holy, the blessed ones, who provide the path across,... those who are endowed with unobstructed knowledge and insight ... the Jinas, who have crossed over, who help others cross, the liberated and the
my select liberators, the omniscient, the all-seeing, those who have reached the destiny of the siddha, from which there is no return and which is bliss immutable, inviolable, imperishable and undisturbed; praise to the Jinas who have overcome fear. I worship all the siddhas, those who have been and those who in future will be."
Bahubali-Mastaka-Abhiseka (Every Twelve Years, February) Finally, we may mention a special ceremony. Although not part of the annual cycle, it is the most famous and by far the most spectacular of all Jain festivals. This is called Mastakaabhiseka (head-anointing) and is held every twelfth year at Shravana Belgola, in Karnataka in honour of the Jain saint and hero, Bahubali. The 1981 performance of this very popular ceremony was especially dramatic, since it fell on the thousandth anniversary of the consecration of Bahubali's statue, which was installed by the Jain general, Camudaraya.
Hundreds of thousands of Jains from all over India came to the small town of Shravana Belgola, in order to anoint and to meditate before this monumental statue of Bahubali, which is fifty-seven feet tall and was carved out of granite on a hilltop just outside of the town. The statue depicts Bahubali, the first man to attain Nirvana in our present time cycle, standing erect, completely naked, immersed in deep meditation. Bahubali is believed to have held this
posture, oblivious to the Bahubali-mastaka-abhiseka is vines and snakes gathering celebrated with a dramatic and
around him, for twelve colourful ceremony
months in a heroic effort
to root out the last vestiges of impurity. In order to honour his achievement and to gain great merit for themselves, the faithful come to Shravana Belgola every twelve years and erect a temporary scaffolding behind the statue with a platform at the top. From this platform they anoint Bahubali with various ointments consisting of yellow and red powder, sandalwood paste, milk and clear water, with the colours of these materials symbolically representing the stages of purification of Bahubali's soul as it progresses towards enlightenment.
Karttika-Purnima/ Ratha-Yatra (December) The festival of Karttikapurnima, occurs within a Lay people celebrate Karttikafortnight of Divali on the purnima with a special streer full moon day of Karttika. procession known as Ratha-yatra This marks the end of the rainy season. On the following day the monks and nuns, who have stayed in retreat for four months, must resume their wanderings. At the same time, laypeople are released from the various vows which they had undertaken for the duration of the season. The festival of Karttika-purnima provides them with an opportunity to thank the monks and nuns for their sermons and counsel.
Laypeople celebrate this day by putting an image of the Jina into an immense, beautifully decorated wooden vehicle (ratha) and pull it by hand through the streets of the city. The procession, known as Ratha-yatra, is headed by monks and nuns, and begins at the local temple, winding its way through the city to a park within the city limits. Here a prominent monk gives a sermon and lay leaders call for generous donations in support of the various social and religious projects (such as building temples, libraries or hospitals) that
Professor Padmanabh Jaini is based at University of California, Berkeley. The above article is from his series 'Collected Papers on Jaina Studies' published by Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, 2002.
Proros: DINODI
June - August 2003 Jain Spirit
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