Samayik And Chaityavandan Vidhi

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 72

CHAITYA VANDAN RITUAL
Now let us consider the formalities for Chaitya Vandan. The aspirant stands in the center of the Rangmandap facing the Lord's image and kneels down three times while reciting the Khamasaman Sutra and then he sits down. If he has brought the rice grains, he would take a board and make a Swastik of the rice. The figure resembles a cross with its hands turned towards the right at right angle so as to look like four petals of a flower. This has nothing to do with the Nazi Swastik, which has the hands turned leftward. After making it one would place three lumps of rice above the Swastik and make a crescent at the top.
Some people interpret the four petals of Swastik as representing the heavenly, human, animal and infernal states of existence. But Swastik literally means what brings forth the bliss, while those four states are the places where the worldly soul has been wandering since the infinity. None of them represents bliss.
The four petals of Swastik therefore need to be considered symbolic of any blissful quadruplet. They can be considered as representing the quadruplet of Dän (charity), Shil (virtue), Tap (austerity) and Bhävanä (adorable mode); or that of Sham (calming down of defilements), Samveg (desire to gain liberation), Nirved (disaffection for embodiment) and Anukampä (compassion). Either of these quadruplets can lead to right perception (Samyag Darshan), right knowledge (Samyag Jnän) and right conduct (Samyak Charitra). These three are signified by three lumps of rice. By resorting to that trio, one can attain the liberation, which is signified by the crescent at the top; because Siddhashilä, the abode of liberated souls is believed to be crescent shaped.
If rice are not available, one may not make the diagram. If, however, one wants to, he can draw the diagram by using Kunkum or saffron. Thereafter he needs to occupy a posture with the left knee raised and to seek the permission to perform Chaitya Vandan ritual by uttering as under
Ichchhäkären Sandisah Bhagavan, Chaityavandan Karun? (May I perform Chaitya Vandan?)
Since the permission is to be assumed, he would say 'Ichchham' meaning 'thank you' Then he may recite the following prayer.
Sakal Kushal Valli, Pushkäravart Megho; Duritatimir Bhänu, Kalpavrikshopamänah, Bhavajalanidhipotah, Sarva Sampatti Hetu; Sa Bhavatu Satatam Vah, Shreyase Shantinathah, Shreyase Parshwanathah