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166: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
When a statue of a Tirthankara is installed in a temple for the first time, an "Acārya" or an "Anuyogācārya" who comes after him in the hierarchical order applies, before the ceremony itself, a special lotion on its eyes in saying specific "mantra". This rite is called "añjanaśalākā". It symbolizes the energy the statue will give to the devotees when they will come and proceed to its contemplation (darśana). It is not to receive favours but a kind of hypnotism to progress on the way to liberation.
We will see a little later, when we will speak about the "puja", the symbolism of various Jain practices in front of one or more statues of Tirthankara in their temples.
c) Sacred books: As we have said, Jains show a great respect and a great veneration for their sacred books, even if they do not have the same importance in every obedience. They like to read and to meditate on them, to listen to ascetics' explanations and comments on them. Some texts are difficult or not easily understandable for common people because they are often written in ancient languages. Some are not published or even translated. They are carefully preserved in special libraries (bhaṇḍāra) and only consulted by learned monks. Ascetics who have studied these books thoroughly can best explain their contents and their meaning to the laity. The laity studies them according to a rite called "upadhana" that includes specific methods of reading, analysis, exegesis, and recitation by heart, etc. The ascetics learn them through "upadhānavidhi"' and the monks through "yogodvahana-vidh?' (a particular type of austerity, which ensures the purity of mind, body and speech).
For Digambara "Taraṇapanthi" the cult of sacred books is primordial because they do not want to be considered as idolatrous. To them, the sacred scriptures represent the quintessence of their faith. They contain the Tirthankara's teachings, of those who have attained perfect knowledge and spread it to humanity. They add to these books those of their founder Taraṇa Svāmī. Digambara
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