Puja Book

Publisher: USA Jain Center Northern Calfornia

Page 11

Pratishtha Mahotsav Puja Booke August 4-7, 2000 1.33. ASHTMANGAL PUJA After the birth of a Tirthankar, Indra Maharaja (King of heavenly beings) takes HIM to the Meru Parrat (Mount Meru) and performs the Abhishek Pigja. Then he (Indra Maharaja) makes A shtMangal (eight auspicious things) using rice made out of gold or silver. After this, Indra Maharaja brings this AshtMangal in a grand procession towards the Tirthankar. Darshan (viewing) of the AshtMangal is auspicious and earns good Karma (Puma). In this auspicious ritual of AshtMangal, AshtPrakari Puja is performed. Pratishtha Mahotsav Preja Book August 4-7, 2000 to the Self (soul). Only path of Moksha is beneficial to our Self that is attained by eradicating all karma. By removing the darkness of karma, one enlightens himself / herself with the Absolute Knowledge (Keral Jnana). One Dipak is used in Mangal Dro to symbolize the one and only Perfect Knowledge, Kecal Jnana through which the darkness of the ignorance is permanently removed, the miserable cycle of birth and death is permanently ended, the association with the foreign dust of karma is completely terminated, and the true qualities of the souls are forever realized. In other words, one Dipak in Mangal Drvo symbolizes the one and only path of Moksha as expounded by Tirtharkars. We should mentally contemplate while performing Mangal Diro that "I want to enlighten my inner Dipak (self) just like this Mangal Divo by attaining the perfect knowledge, Kecal Jnana by practicing the path of Moksha as expounded by Tirthankars." 1.34. ARATI 1.36, SHANTI KALASH There are many meanings of Arati. One meaning is to experience the spiritual joy from all directions (Arati - A + Rati; A means from all sides and Rati means Joy - spiritual joy). When a religious activity is concluded with success, we do Arati to express our spiritual joy. Arati also means to seek the end of "Art" (misery). This material world (Samsar) is full of misery, and the aspirant is performing Arati to free himself / herself from the cycle of the misery of the material world, cycle of birth and death. Third meaning is that to fill our inner selves with spiritual joy, and to end the mental unhappiness. To free from the miserable cycle of the material world (Samsar), one needs to have bright light of five types of knowledge. That's why we light five Dipaks (which has candle like flame). These five Dipaks symbolizes five great vows (Panch Maha Vrat) through its practice, one attains the salvation. Five Dipaks are also symbolic of practicing five Samiis (Restraints), It is also representative of restraining negative activities of five senses and five characteristics of Samyak Darshan (Right Perception). This is performed for inner and external peace for everyone and everywhere in the universe. In the beginning, Namokar Maha Mantra and Urnsaggaraham are recited, and then it is followed by Bruh-Shanti while maintaining a continuous flow of the Panchammut from Kalash in to a Pot. In this process, the peace in the universe is prayed for by wishing good physical, verbal, mental and spiritual health to all living beings and absence of misery everywhere. This is done in the manner it was done by the heavenly beings and their king (Indra) while performing Jarmabhishek of Tirthankar on the Mount Meru. Aspirant pays his / her respect to all twenty four Tirthankars and prays for suppression of passions (Kashay) everywhere. Inner and external peace is wished to the four folded community (Sangh) and to all living beings, guidance from Jain monks and nuns is sought, Mantras are recited, help from heavenly beings is sought, environment, that is free of diseases, wars, droughts, disturbances and unhappiness, is sought. The spiritual progress, contentment and well being for everyone is wished. It is prayed that every living being becomes free of all kind of fears, fear of water, fire, poison, animals, disease, war, enemy, robber, etc. It wished that each living being helps each other, everyone eliminates his/her own faults, and everlasting happiness for everyone is wished. Another way to understand the purpose of performing Arati is that, to free our selves from the miserable cycle of material world, we need to detach our selves from all worldly attachments as five supreme beings (Panch Parmeshth) have done it. To pay our spiritual tribute to these five Panch Pameshthi, we light up five Dipaks, and we mentally contemplate that "I want to also give up all worldly attachments, and want to initiate myself (take Diksha) to become a Sadhi (or Sadhr) to free my self from four Samsarik destinies and to attain the fifth destiny, Moksha. 1:37. SHANTI SNATRA PUJA 1.35. MANGAL Divo This pujan is performed to conclude the Pratishtha Mahotsau During this pusan, Shri Laghu Shanti, which is consisted of 27 aphorisms, is recited involving unique ritual process. This Pujan is performed for the well being of entire Sangh, for its spiritual growth, for its inner happiness and peace, to calm down the outside disturbances and for curing uncontrollable diseases. After the conclusion of this Pujan, the temple is sprinkled with the holy water (Naman). Mangal means to eradicate bad karma (pap), to free our selves from Scomsar (material world), to remove the darkness of ignorance, to have an auspicious opportunity to practice Right Religion and to practice the path that is beneficial Jain Jain Center of Northern California Pagecr22ivate & Personal Usain Center of Northern California wwPage 23ry.org