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1.1: Samyaktva: Preliminary Understanding
1.1.1 Mangalaacharana
Namo Arihantaanam Namo Siddhaanam Namo Aairiyaanam Namo Uvajjhaayaanam Namo Loye Savva Saahunam
Eso pancha namokaaro, Savva paava ppanaasano Mangalaanam cha savvesim, Padhamam havaii mangalam
Obeisance to the Arihantas, who have attained omniscience Obeisance to the Siddhaas, who have attained liberation Obeisance to the Aachaaryas, who are the leaders of the ascetics and the lay community Obeisance to the Upaadhyaayas, who are the masters of the ascetics Obeisance to all the Saadhus in the world, they are the ascetics who walk the path of liberation
Reciting this five-fold salutation destroys all sins. It is the most auspicious amongst all that is auspicious.
This is the daily prayer of all Jains. All Jains, irrespective of their denomination, recite this prayer, as the one who internalises it shall attain pleasure and bliss in this world and the next, and shall achieve liberation.
What is Dharma?
It is imperative to understand what Dharma truly is. This term has been misunderstood and misused for centuries. Dharma is neither a creed nor a cult. It does not belong to any one person or group of persons. Dharma does not teach one to discriminate against a certain group of people based on their race, nationality, ethnicity, endogamous group or faith. Dharma is not the chattel of any race or gender or group of people. Dharma is the true nature of a person or an object.
Dharma can be described in many ways. Lord Mahavira described it as, “Vatthu sahaavo dhammo'. The basic attribute of a substance is its dharma. For instance, heat is the basic attribute of fire. Coolness is the basic attribute of cooling. Similarly, the basic nature of the soul is perception, knowledge and conduct, thus its Dharma.
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