Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 99

lives of other Tirthankars. On the third day of the Paryushan, the Kalpa Sutra receives very special reverence, and may be ceremonially taken out in a procession. On the fifth day at a special ceremony, the replicas of the 14 dreams of Mahavir's mother Queen Trishala are displayed and honoured. Shravaks and Shravikas are expected to give special attention to activities like Amari Parivartan (spreading the message of Ahimsa; Attham Tapa (fast for three consecutive days, chaitya paripati (visiting the temples and Sthanaks for worship and prayers; Swami Vatasalya (honoring and respecting fellow Jains); and Kshamapana (asking for forgiveness from all by performing Pratikraman. On the final day namely Samvatsari, Jains perform Samvatsari Pratikramana and ask for forgiveness to family, friends and even foes for any wrongful acts or behavior. Many perform different austerities and penances as per their volition in these eight days. Forgiveness (Kshama) is asked for and given with the following utterance : Khamemi Savva Jiva, Savve Jiv khamantu Me Mitti me savva bhueshu, veram majjiham na kenai. I forgive all living beings of the universe May all the living beings forgive me for my shortcomings I do not have any animosity towards anybody, and I have friendship for all living beings. DIGAMBAR PARYUSHAN Digambars celebrate Paryushan as DAS LAKSHANA PARVA by emphasizing the following ten cardinal virtues, namely Kshama (forgiveness), Mardava (humility), Arjava (straightforwardness), Shaucha (absence of greed), Satya (truth), Samyam (restraint and self-discipline), Tapa (penance and austerities), Tyag (sacrifice), Akinchan (non-possesiveness. and Bramhacharya (celibacy). In the Jain scriptures, these ten virtues are described as yati dharma- part of 57 ways of stopping the influx of karmas (Samvar).
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A Portrait of Jain Religion