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A DEMOCRATIC FESTIVAL
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Pratikamana is an important ceremony meant for self-purification. Literally, it means retracing or going back. It is a retrace of the soul to its natural purity, which has been spoiled or diverted by passions and longings for external objects, While observing Pratikramana a devotee repents for his past sinful activities and decides not to commit them again. He enumerates all the probable possible slips in his vows, regrets and makes a decision not to repeat them. It is a procedure to take an account of the past spiritual advancement and make a new start. The monks and the devotees with vows of a householder observe this rite daily. Other observe it fortnightly, after a period of four months or annually on the day of · Paryushana. In the annual Partikramana the progress of whole year is taken into account.
The last but the most important item of this ceremony is the announcement of forgiveness and friendship. The devotee announces :
खामेमि सव्वे जीवा, सव्वे जीवा वि खमंतु मे ।
मित्ती मे सव्व - भूएसु वेरं मज्झं ण केरगइ ।।
"I forgive all beings. May all the beings forgive me. I hold friendship with every being and enmity with none." The heart of Jainism lies in this announcement. Nobody can claim to be a Jain who does not make this announcement on the day of Paryushana.
The above announcement is not confined to verbal expression. It is followed by real practice. As soon as the Pratikramana is over, every devotee approaches the individuals sitting by and asks for their forgiveness with
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