________________
LII : SĀRĀVALİ-PRAKIRNAKA
It has been mentioned in the Mahāniśitha, “O' lord! if we be permitted, we might proceed on pilgrimage to the Dharmacakra tīrtha and return after bowing to (the idol of) Lord Candraprabha there”.“
A definite description with regard to Jaina pilgrimage is available in Haribhadra's Pañcāśaka (Circa 8th century AD). In the ninth pañcāśaka Haribhadra has described the ritual pertaining to the Jina-pilgrimage, but at the very look at the work it appears as if it is related to the ceremonial procession of the Jina idol in one's own town rather than journeying to a distant place of pilgrimage. Therein are mentioned the objectives and the duties pertaining to pilgrimage. According to this description Jaina pilgrimage has to include charity according to one's capacity, observance of austerities according to one's ability, bodily discipline, appropriate singing and playing of musical instruments, and singing of the Lords' praise for the glorification of the faith.*? The seeds of the undertaking of the Chah rī pālita Sarigha' (group pilgrimages with six-way observances), in the Svetāmbara tradition, can also be traced to this description by Haribhadra. Even today the observance of these six things is considered desirable while undertaking a pilgrimage:
Eating only once a day (Ekähäri),
+1 Jahannayā Goyamā te sahuno tam āyariyam bhananti jahā - Nani jai
bhayavam tume ānāvehi tanam amhehi titthyattam kari (2) yā Candappahamsāmiyam vandi (3) ya Dhammacakkam gantunamā gacchāmo ||
- Mahānisītha, (Quoted, Ibid, p. 10.) 42 Haribhadrasūri, Śrī Pañcāsaka Prakaranam, Jinayātrā Pañcāsaka, p.
248-63.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
