Jainism Abroad

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 16

RADIO On Cleveland RADIO "WERE**
. Cleveland, U.S.A.
"Jainism.
(Vardhaman Bharati presented speeches in United States of America by Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya in Cleveland "WERE" Radio interview show as interviewed by Dr. John Monelesco. Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya assisted by Dr. T. J. Salagia spoke on "Jainism and India" and clarified queries of listeners who questioned them through spontaneous telephone calls in this live Radio Interview show here) Dr. John Monelesco, The Well-read American Interviewer's Introduction:
Jainism is definitely one of the big currents of thoughts. I would even call it a "Philosophy of Life", Holy Philosophy of life and I think, without any further ado, after the next commercial Ad, I want to just make a short presentation of what Jainism is all about and then later, during the show 5781300, I want you to fire questions at these gentlemen and learn more. I want you to be intelligent, super-intelligent. That is what I want my audience to be; whether you are an old person like me or you are a bio-cula. Then I will be proud of you: O.K. Here is Prof. Pratapkumar J.Toliya with Dr. Salagia, to give us a "presentation of Jainism".
Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya: Jainism begins with this Mantra:
"Om Namo Arihantanam", "Om Namo Siddhanam", "Om Namo Ayariyanam", "Om Namo Uvajjhayanam", "Om Namo Loye Savva-Sahoonam, Eso Pancha Namukkaro", "Savva Pavappa Panansano", "Mangalanam Cha Savvesim", "Padhamam Havai Mangalam".
It means I bow down to those who have reached Omniscience and reached the road to ever-lasting life in the liberated state and Secondly, I bow down to the Siddhas or those who have attained perfect knowledge and liberated from all their Karmas and Sins.
Namo Aa Yarivanam: I bow down to those who have experienced self-realization of their souls through self-control, selfdiscipline and self sacrifice. Namo Uvajjayanam - I bow down to those who understood the true nature of the soul and taught the importance of spiritual over the material. Namo Loye Savva Sahoonam-Eso Pancha Namukkaro - I bow down to those who strictly followed the 5 great vows of conduct and inspired us to live a virtuous life, that is, all the saints of the world who follow this pach. To these two types of great souls, I offer my praise and hope. This praise will keep me healthy and help diminish my sins.
"Mangalanam Cha Savvesim": This praise is most auspicious.
"Padhamam Havai Mangalam": and so this auspicious praise brings happiness and bliss. This is the basic mantra "NAMOKAR MANTRA" of Jainism. It says, we have to bow unto all the great souls who have realized their selves and who are able to make others realize, they can get emancipated and they can pave the way of emancipation for others. This is about souls who tread this path from time in memorial, of which there were 24 Jain Tirthankaras. This order was in the end with Bhagwan Mahavir 2,500 years ago. He was the last or 24th in this order, before him was a series of 23 Jain Tirthankaras - Paraswanatha, Neminatha and p in. The first was Adinatha Rishabhdev, in this circle of time called Avasarpini Kala': Adinataha or Adim-natha' Rishabdev was the first Jain Tirthankara in this order, in this age, who has paved the way for all human beings on this earth, in many ways, by showing agriculture and scripts and learning, by showing how to conquer, after which he taught - 64 arts and 72 Arts for men and women right from Music and writing and understanding & Sculpture, Dancing, Painting, and what not. All these arts were shown by Lord Rishabhdeva. After him there were a series of saints as well as householders. His great sons were Omniscient people, out of whom Lord Bahubali and Lord Bharata were important. Recently in India ye witnessed the "Mahamastakabhisheka", the head anointment ceremony of Lord Bahubali, the Tirthankara's son, who attained Omniscience by treading the path of Meditation and self-realization. Meditation, not in the commercial rm, but meditation in terms of self-realization for which a person has his whole hearted devoted thinking.
Dr. John Monelesco: All right, now, we heard a nice lovely speech. Explairus Some of the basic principles - Because they seem very alien to the Western mind. Explain the theory of "Karma' first.