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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
All jivas who have attained that level are saluted and honoured.
Our austerities attain purity, if our hearts abound in amity, compassion, love and neutrality. If we acquire these virtues, we will be worthy of the status of the Paramatma, and we will attain it. Here, we have spiritual democracy in the sense that all can attain that status.
POLITENESS :
If you acquire the quality of politenss, you will easily understand the secrets of Dharma. The first and toremost lesson of culture is to offer respect to others and to greet them with a salute. In the first chapter of the Uttaradhyayana Sutra politeness is described as the right means to attain Moksha. Ravana, also possessed politeness though he had many vices. He had also many great virtues. So, he attained Moksha.
There is no difference between Shri Ram and Mahavir. We believe that Shri Ram was a Siddha. Mahavir is a Siddha. We say, ''Namo Siddhanam'. So it means that we also salute Shri Ram when we say it. Shri Ram is a Siddha; and Mahavir is a Siddha. They are equal as siddhas. The word Namah is the gateway to enter the soul. Only after we enter the soul can we realize the Paramatma. Therefore Namo takes the first place; and then the expression, Paramatma appears.
Sometimes Namah is placed next to the name of the dielity saluted; but in the Jain mantra "Namo'' appears first. We say "Namo Aribantanam; Namo Siddhanam' The Thirthankars do not give us Moksha. They show us the way to Moksha.
The Namaskara helps both men and women to cross the ocean of Samsar. The very attitude implied in Namaskar leads them to the supreme state. That lofty attitude arises in us when we utter the word Namah. The Namaskar that is offered with devotion enables us to become Paramatmas.
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