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Pratishtha Mahon PiBook
August 4-7, 2000
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Before we start, we must emphasize that there are many different ways of doing Jinpuja. What you read here and what you may see during the Pratishthä, is not the only way, if you keep in mind the Jain doctrine of Anekäntuid (multiple viewpoints). We want to make it clear that it is not our intention to offend anyone.
With the blessing of Bhagwän Ädinäth, we are celebrating one of the most memorable Pratishtha Mahotsav in the Jain' history. The temple is the First Jain Temple in the entire North America to have Pratimäjis with Pran Pratishtha, uniting all Jains under one roof Shwetambar, Digambar, Sthänakuäsi and the inspired ones by Shrimad Rajchandraji. Jain Bhawan and associated activities are the best way to extend our rich Jain Heritage and Indian culture to our next generation, and generations to come.
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The word Pratishthä is a Sanskrit word made of two words. The word Pra means Pratyaksha or "in person" or "live", and the word Tishta means to install or to establish. The combined meaning of the word Pratishtha means to establish live image of Veeträg? Bhagur(s) in the temple for spiritual grace and fellowship.
1.1. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PRATIMÄJIS WITH PRÄN PRATISHTHÄ?
The Pratinajis are made out of marble. To make them most auspicious and worship-able, Prän Pratishthä needs to be performed. The Pran Pratishthä ceremony auspiciously installs "living-ness" in the Pratinajis. In other words,
Jain word is derived from Jina, which literally means "the Victor" or "the Liberator". One who has freed himself/herself from the bondage of Karma by conquering nige (attachment deceit and greed) & dusha (aversion anger and ego). People who follow the teachings of Jina are called Jains. Jinas are also called skranes (who treat everything with equanimity) or rogothes (who does not have desires and passions). The teachings of Jina is called Jainism. Bhagwan Mahavira was the last reformer of Jainism. Jainism is the universal religion (a) because the fundamental principle of Jainism Abonsi, either by thoughts, words or action is extended to all living beings. In other words all living beings are considered equal The Sanskrit word for the religion is dhama The meaning of dhama is very own nature or quality of the thing. For all living beings, soul is the real thing. This makes "to see, to know and to realize the true nature of the things. In other words, the laws of nature in truest and purest form are the religion. Laws of nature lead us to the laws of self-initiatives and self-efforts. Without self-efforts and self-initiatives, one cannot see, know and realize his/her own true qualities. That's why Jainism relies a great deal on one's own efforts and initiatives, and laws
of nature.
Verig means the person who has no attachments what so ever.
>There are many meanings of Bhagan. Couple of them are: 1) The person who is not going to be born again, who has freed HIMSELF from the cycle of birth and death. 2) The person who has conquered all kinds of fear.
Jain Center of Northern California
Jain Education International
Pratishtha Mahotsav Puja Book
August 4-7, 2000
Pratimäjis with Pran Pratishthä are the next best to a Tirthankar in person. As you know we do not have any Tirthankar on this planet. Therefore, a Pratināji with Pran Pratishthä. is like a "Tirthankar" residing in our temple. The Prin Pratishtha can only be performed by a qualified Acharya in India as it is in our case. Prän Pratishtha of Pratonajis of Bhagwan Mahavirji, Chandraprabhji and Shantinathji was performed by H.H. Acharyä Vardhaman Sagarji Maharaj Säheb, this past February in Jaipur, India. The Pratinajis are now in the Gabhärä. Anjan-Shaläkä (Prän Pratishtha) of Pratinajis of our Mul Nayak Bhagwan Adinäth and Bhagwän Pärsvanäth, also now in Gabhara, was performed by H. H. Ächärya Padma Sagar Ji Maharaj Säheb in Pune, India, in April, 2000.
This also qualifies our temple to become a "Tirth" in a due time. At present, no Jain temple in North America has Pratinajis with Pran Pratishtha. It also require us to perform Jinpuja daily. We have planned for a permanent Pugari and also sign up of several volunteers to perform Jauja daily of the Pran Pratishthith Pratinajis. You may want to take spiritual advantage of this auspicious opportunity by signing up as a back-up volunteer to perform Jinpiga when needed.
1.2. RITES & RITUALS IN JAINISM
The one and only purpose of Jainism is to attain Moksha (salvation freedom from cycle of life and death or eternal happiness). Rites and rituals are small but important first steps towards the path of Moksha. The rites and rituals consist of Bhakti and Worship.
Unlike the general concept of rites and rituals, Jains do not perform rites and rituals for worldly happiness, for a certain miracle or to please some divine power. In Jainism, the purpose of rites and rituals is to pay our respect to Tirthankars for the salvation they have attained, for showing us the path of
+ The word rith means ford (passage) and, therefore, tirthankar means builders of ford, which leads us across the ocean of suffering and to the bank of everlasting happiness, "Moksha". In this half time cycle we have 24 tirthankars, first one being Rushabhdev and the last one Mahavir Swami. Each time cycle consists of 6 descending (Avasarpini) and 6 ascending (Utsarpini) phases. Currently we are in the fifth phase of a descending half cycle. The fifth phase started from the time of Bhagwan Mahavira's Moksha and it will last for 21,000 years. Tirthankar has revealed the truth of the universe to us. One who sheds all of its four defiling (i) karma namely ma (Knowledge obscuring) Kamma, Darshaniya (Perception obscuring) kamna, Mohniya (Deluding) Kamma and Antara (Obstructive) Kama, and who has had earned Tethankar Nam Kanna in his/her previous life becomes a Tirthankar. These Tirthankars reinstate the Jain Sangh (four-fold Jain Order) consisting of Sades (monks), Sadris (nuns), Strävaks (male householders), and Shrikas (female householders).
Moksha - moha + kesharju, moha means delusion and kshy means eradication. this makes Moksha, a state without delusion and with eradication of all karma. There are three jewels, serrule dasar or right perception (inclination or belief), snake in or right knowledge (cognition), sarrakechirine or right conduct - these three cembined are the means to Moksha.
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