Prashamratiprakaran

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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vara-stoppage of karmic influx. It is understood as repeated study of Scriptures. Pujyapāda in his Sarvárthasiddhi defines it as pondering on the nature of body and other substances. Siddhasenagaội defines it as repeated reflaction. According to Kārtikeyānuprekşā it means reflections on the right principles. Subhacandra commenting on Kartikeyānuprekşā says that it is repeated reflection on important nature of worldly things.
Thus, Bhavanās or Anuprekşās are understood as repeated reflections on twelve principles which lead a monk to a state of virati-renunciation of attachment to wordly pleasures. This conception of Bhāvang is considered as a very important religious principle, and the author of Pragamarati devotes 14 verses to enumerate the principle of Bhāvaná. (Pr. 149-162). .. They are as follows :
(1) The transient character of things (anityatva-bhāvanā, (2) Helplessness (asaranattva), (3) Loneliness (ekatva), (4) Separateness of the self and non-self (anyatva), (5) Impurity of the body (asucitva), (6) Transmigrations (samsāra), (7) Inflow of Karmas (karmāsrava), (8) Stoppage of the inflow of karmas (Samvara), (9) Shedding of the stock of Karmas (nirjaraņa), (10) Constitution of the universe (lokavistāra), (11) Nature of Law (Dharma) and (12) Difficulty in attaining Right faith (bodhisuduraabhata). These Bhavanās are explained in the following manner: The monk has to reflect on the impermanent nature of the world (anityatva). In this world, union with beloved people, prosperity, pleasures and accessories, wealth, health, physical gift, youth and even life itself are all transitory. The Jiva is pestred by birth, old age, death, pain and pleasure. For this tormenting samsăric Jiva, there is no saviour except words of Jinas (asaraṇatva). Reflection on ekatyabhavanā is that the individual Jiva is all alone while being born and alone when man dies. One has to reap fruits of one's own actions good or bad, one alone has to take birth in the lower or higher world, no one else accompanies one to the next world. Thus a monk should reflect on one's own welfare. Anyatvabhāvanā is that the monk has to think that pure self is separate from the body, senses, relatives, servants and worldly riches. This kind of reflection leads to a state of grieflessness. Aģucitvabhāvanā consists in reflecting on impurity of body. The body itself is made out of impure stuff and it is a dwelling place of impurity. Thus reflecting upon this principle, one should relinquish attachment for the body. The monk has to reflect on repeated births and deaths (samsāra). The soul during the range of beginningless time has suffered many births