Samayik And Chaityavandan Vidhi

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 30

(8) LOGASSA SUTRA
This Sutra is meant to offer obeisance to all the 24 Tirthankars and adore their attributes. Its importance is ranked only next to Navkärmantra. Jainism believes in three levels of universe. The middle one is called Madhyalok. Its central part is known as Jambudweep, which corresponds, in a way, to the earth. To the southern extreme of Jambudweep lies Bharat Kshetra, which is the same as Indian subcontinent. There arose during the current time cycle 24 Arihants, who are called Tirthankars. Lord Rushabhdev, also known as Adinath (Adi means the beginning), was the first and Lord Mahävir was the last. This Sutra is meant to adore all of them. Therefore it is also known as Chaturvinshati Stav or Chauvisattho, which has been laid down as the second Ävashyak or the essential ritual.
Logassa Ujjoagare, Dhamma Titthayare Jine; Arihante Kittaissam, Chauvisam Pi Kevali (1).
Meanings: Logassa=of universe, Ujjoagare=illuminators, Dhamma=religion, Titthayare=organizers of the order, Jine=Jina, Arihante=omniscient Lords, Kittaissam=shall adore, Chauvisam Pi=all twenty four, Kevali=omniscient.
Translation: I shall adore all the 24 Jinas, the omniscient Lords, who are illuminators of the universe and who have set up the religious order.
Usabhamajiam Cha Vande, Sambhavamabhinandanam Cha Sumaim Cha; Paumappaham Supäsam, Jinam Cha Chandappaham Vande. (2)
Meanings: Usabham-Rushabhdev, Ajiam=Ajitnath, Cha=and, Vande-I bow, Sambhavam-Sambhavnath, Abhinandanam=Abhinandanswami, Sumaim=Sumatinath, Paumappaham=Padmaprabhaswami, Supäsam= Suparshwanath, Jinam=Jina, Chandappaham=Chandraprabhaswami.
Translation: I bow to Lords Rushabhdev, Ajitnath, Sambhavnath, Abhinandanswami, Sumatinath, Padmaprabhaswami, Suparshwanath and Chandraprabhaswami.
It would be noticed that the names of the Lords in this Sutra are mentioned as Rushabh, Abhinandan, Sambhav etc. They have, however, been translated here as Rushabhdev, Abhinandanswami, Sabhavnath etc. for the sake of reverence for them. It would also be seen that the stanza gives the names of the 5th and 8th Tirthankars are as Padmaprabha and Chandraprabha. Most of the people take Prabha as Prabhu and treat those names as Padmaprabhu and Chandraprabhu. Prabha, however, means luster. Those names therefore