Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

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clothes, the devotee goes to the temple and recites Namokaramantra (the Mahamantra) with devotional sonas and hymns, puts down a few grains of rice, bows and goes around a circamambulatory path three times, and repeats Arihanta-Siddha etc. Then on a rosary of 108 beads, he starts performing As-. tadravyapuja which is an eight-fold worship. First of all, he bathes the image with pure water which is a kind of reminiscence of the post-birth illustration of the bathing of the Tirthankara by Indra, the Lord of Gods (not of Jinas). Then he recites the verses, drops one after another the Astadravyas (water, sandal wood paste, cleaned rice-grains, flowers or saffron coloured rice, coconut, lamp,incense, fruits like cloves and almondsand the last one mixed offeringsArgha) in a platter placed on the table in front of him. This procedure of paying homage to the Jina or Tirthankara, the ideal Guru and the Sastras or Scriptures may be done individually orin a congregation. After this the devotee concludes his worships with the recitation of Santipatha expressing his wish for universal peace: "May Lord Jinendradeva, bestow peace on the land, the nation, the city and the state, and welfare on all the citizens, may the rulers and the administrators be strong, law-abiding and righteous, the rains be timely and adequate, all the diseases and ailments disappear, no one in the world be aftlicted with famine or scarcity because of theft, loot, plunder and devastation, nor with epidemics, even for a moment: Peace be to all."
Among other Jaina rituals, idol installation include Jinabimbapratistha or Pancakalyanakapratistha with devotional songs and hymns which initiates the image for worship in a Jaina temple. It is performed with a great ceremony under the leadership of a learned priest through depicting the five auspicious events of a Tirthankara's life, namely, conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and Nirvana.
There are some social ceremonies like Samskaras which are somehow connected with spiritual and with physical purity. They are of three types viz.i) 53 kriyas (rites) which cover the entire life of a person from conception to death (Garbhanvayakriyas), ii) 48 rites which are related to new converts and their spiritual development (Diksanvayakriyas), and iii) 7 rites which are meant for personality development of meritorious souls (Kartranvyayakriyas).
Among festivals celebrated by Jainas are : Paryusana, or Dasalaksana Parva held during the rainy season for eight or ten
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