________________
Samvatsari Pratikramana
This sutra is the Forgiveness Verse of Sämäyika. It is very important that we ask for forgiveness and repent for the sins committed by us either knowingly or unknowingly before we perform Sämäyika, Pratikraman, and Chaitya Vandan (praying to the Tirthankars at the temple) rituals. By recitation of this sutra a person enumerates the sins that may have been committed by him/her in ordinary day-to-day life while moving around. He/she repents, apologizes, and asks for forgiveness for those sins.
Special repentance for the for the violence caused to various living being
(while walking on the way) Tassa uttari-karanenam, päyachchhitta-karanenam,
Visohi-karanenam,
visalli-karanenam,
Pävänam kammänam, Nigghäyanatthäe, thämi käussaggam. (1)
I now want to absolve all my sins committed (as mentioned in the Iriyavahiyä Sutra) by repenting. To purify my soul and to make it free of pain (caused by practicing religion without right faith or practicing to impress others or for worldly gains) and to completely destroy all my sins, I shall now perform Käyotsarga. (1)
After requesting forgiveness from all living beings of the universe, the next step is to discipline one-self in order to avoid future sins. This is done via Käyotsarga or käussagga (meditation for certain duration in a motionless meditative posture). By reciting "Tassa Uttari Sutra', one declares the intention of meditation in motionless posture. It also helps to reduce our vices (Kashäyas), which in turn reduces our past bad karmas. The five purposes of Kaussaga are: Atonement, Repentance, Purification, Removal of Obstacles and Uprooting Sinful Activities.
