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Samvatsari Pratikramana
119
Forgiveness to all living beings
Khämemi savva-jive, savve jivä khamantu me. Mitti me savva-bhuesu, veram majjha na kenai. (49) Evamaham äloia,
nindia-garahia-duganchhiam sammam.
Tivihena padikkanto, vandämi jine chauvvisam. (50)
I forgive all living beings. I seek pardon from all living beings. I am friendly towards all living beings. I seek enmity (hatred) with
none. (49)
I bow down to 24 Tirthankars after purifying the mind, speech and body by contemplating, reprehending, repenting and despising my sins in the presence of a spiritual preceptor. (50)
This is the longest principal aphorism of both night (devasika) and day (räi) Pratikramana. A householder is supposed to observe five ethical codes of conduct (Ächära) and twelve householder vows (bära vrata). This aphorism is to ask forgiveness of any wrong which doings have occurred while observing these vows. As is the custom, recitation of this sutra begins by first paying homage to the five supreme beings, and is followed by asking for forgiveness for any wrong doing committed while following the house holder's vows (shrävaka vratta), which a Jain layperson will take in preparation for the life of a sadhu. Vanditu sutra is a very important part of the Pratikraman. It can be called the essence of the Pratikraman. It is one of the six avashyakas (essential duties) that all ascetics and devout people perform everyday, during the course of Pratikraman. It lists all the faults that a person may commit regarding the twelve vrats and asks forgiveness for them. The performer asks for forgiveness for faults comitted by thoughts, words or deed and whether he has committed them himself, got them committed by others or appreciated others who commit them. Vanditu sutra is recited during all the five types of Pratikramanas Devasiya, Rai, Pakshik, Chaumasiya and Samvatsari.
