Book Title: Jains Today in World
Author(s): Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Page 248
________________ Their Religious Symbols, Drawings and Expressions : 203 richly decorated cradle containing a statue of him is pulled and escorted by adepts chanting songs and hymns of praise. Those who have made donations for charities have the privilege to pull the cradle and to accompany it along the road. Others look, bow, do the “añjali' or applaud, as the procession proceeds. Some Jains like to say hymns of praise (stotra). These are incantations to receive supernatural influences and to grow stronger along the way. They can be also requests to celestial beings (gods and goddesses) like the “Vajra panjara stotra” to be protected from diseases, mental disorders and bad influences. One may cite too the "Kalyāṇamandira-stotra” and the “Bhaktāmara stotra” of the same nature to Pārśva and Rşabha. Some perform devotional rituals (bhāvanā) to the Tirthankara even though Jain tenets assert that the latter are in a separate place above the universe where they have nothing to do with worldly problems. The Navakāra Mantra' is well said and sung on the web site: http:/www.jainworld.com. On the same web site, one may too read and hear the 48 verses (śloka) of the "Bhaktāmara-stotra" of Ācārya Mānatunga (VIII" century) and various other religious songs. The most spectacular moments of hymns, songs, prayers, dances, rituals, are surely those when Jains consecrate a new temple, install statues in it, undertake pilgrimages, attend initiations of ascetics or ordination of new "Ācārya” and also for the Digambara the great periodical ablutions of Bahubali's statues in India, etc. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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