________________
Letter 4
25
achieved Moksha i.e. Nirvana fatur about 2525 years back. That means these scriptures are 2000 years old.
All these twelve scriptures are divided in four groups. These groups are as per the subject and its description dealt within them. These groups are as follows:
(1)
Prathamanuyoga प्रथमानुयोग ( 2 ) Charananuyoga चरणानुयोग (3) Karananuyoga ung and (4) Dravyanuyoga ngam. We will see, in short what these groups are about.
Prathamanuyoga There are certain volumes which relate the glorious life stories of Tirthankaras and those sovereign rulers who renounced, all their worldly kingdoms, wealth, fame and family etc. and attained Veetaragata. These stories are a permanent source of inspiration for the generations to come, because even the ordinary persons get inspired to follow Jainism in order to attain Veetaragata.
Such scriptures which try to impart initiation of Jainism through such stories are called Prathamanuyoga.
Initially many people are attracted by the idea of gaining virtue i.e. Punya you and the things one can acquire through that. So in the beginning stages they have been told about the greatness and value of Punya and thereby they are persuaded to turn towards true religion i.e. Satdharma (f). It's like tempting a child to go to school by giving it sweets or chocolates in the initial stages.
Thereafter they have been explained the glory and greatness of Namokar Mantra. And thereby they are induced to take keen interest in the recitation of Namokar Mantra, to worship and to visit temple to bow before the Ishwar. And thereby create interest in them to study the scriptures.
Then gradually these people are made aware and taught about the nature of Arihant and Siddha status, the path of salvation shown by them and their preaching. The greatness and importance of Namokar Mantra was accepted by a great scholar Prof. Shivajirao Bhosle Ex Vice Chancellor of Shivaji University, Aurangabad. He used to narrate this in his lectures.
·
In his home town Phaltan, one lady used to cure people from scorpion poison without medicines. He asked as to how she could do it. Then, she told him that she does it only by reciting Namokar Mantra, and its power takes care of the poison. He was really impressed by it and believed that if one Mantra was so powerful then surely the greatness of Jain philosophy must be enormous! And thereafter he studied in detail Jain philosophy.
