________________
14
Shri Jwärä Ropan
With the auspicious aspiration, happiness and peace are wished to every living being in the universe. In this auspicious ritual, four or more unmarried girls (Kunwäri Kanyä) mix the rich farm clay and grains in a clay utensil, and then gently pour pure water on the mixture. This is like a process of sowing good seeds that will grow into a very green and healthy plant. Similarly, during this auspicious ritual, it is prayed that our Sangh will grow spiritually stronger to represent the teachings of Bhagawan Mahavir.
Shri Manek Stambha Ropan
Manek Stambh (Small Wooden Pillar) is placed (ropan, near by performing an auspicious ritual (poojan) for the part of the land (earth) where the Kumbh(pedestal) has been established. Recitation of Mantras (shloks) and prayers are offered to Kshetrapal Dev who was invited to protect the rites and rituals of this poojan, and is being thanked and requested with honour and chanting of Mantra for blessings of good luck there and removing all the bad luck.
Shri Toran Bandhan
Pratishthä Mahotsav event is a celebration of installing the image of the Lord(Pratimaji) in a newly built Jain temple, by a series of rituals. It is a very important and an auspicious event and to mark its significance, a Toran (an auspicious garland) is hung or tied (bandhan) at entrance in the temple.
Shri Laghu Nandavarta Poojan
The word Nandavarta is derived from the two words 'NANDI' and 'AVARTA'. Nandi means Knowledge; One prakirnak sutra called Nandi Sutra contains detailed description of Knowledge mentioned in Jainism. Avarta means circles. Our souls are covered with futile karmic bondages of knowledge. We are offering this poojan with systematic approach to remove them. Shree Nandavarta is bigger form of our common Swastika or Sathiyo. Its four open directions show us four Gatis. By offering Pujäs and performing poojan of various auspicious elements present in the Yantra, we request them to provide us Samyag Gyan, Darsha and Charitra so that we can attain Moksha. Knowledge is the prominent subject at the time of Desna (Vitraag Vaani - discourse) in Samovsaran. It is connected with Gyananatishaya of Tirthankars and this is an exclusive quality and property of Tirthankars. There is Pujā of 291 Samyagdrasti gods and goddesses who are invited at the Pratishtha.
There are 15 circles overlapping each other in Nandavart Yantra. The poojan is done on the Yantra of Nandavarta. There is one large Mandal formatted with un-cooked rice. The image of the presiding Tirthankar, which will be established later on in the Jinalaya, is established in the centre part of the Mandal. Further all other images of Tirthankars that will be established in Jinalaya are kept by calling their names, with due respect and proper offering of the pujä with Vasskhepa, Chandan (Sandlewood) and flowers. This is followed by puja and poojan of Kshetrapal,
Isan Indra, Sakrendra on the left hand side of the Mandal. Proceeding further in poojan, pujäs are offered to Goddess Saraswati, Shantidev and footsteps of two preceptors (Charan-paduka) on the right hand side of Mandal. These two preceptors are Padliptasuri and Vardhmansuri Maharaj Sahebs -compilers of this worship.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
