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Appendix No. 7
Visa-sthānaka Pada The soul of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahavira, during his previous twenty-fifth bhava as Nandana Rişi carefully worshi. pped the visa-sthānaka padas (twenty most exalted rants represented by twenty dignitaries ). These dignitarles described below are as follow:
Śri Arihanta Pada--Arjbanta Pada is adored by rendering service with suitable objects and with a pure heart, to an Arihanta Bhagavăn during his life-time or in his absence by worshipping a consecrated emblem, representation or his pratina, as well as, by faithfully acting strictly in accordance with his commandments; by worshipping Images of Jinégvaras with greater devotion on the auspicious days of their cyavana ( descent from heaven) janma (birth ) dikşā (adopting ascetic life), Kéval Juana (acquisition ) (of Perfect knowledge) and Moksa (Final Emanci. pation ); by having images of Jinesvaras prepared of gold, silver, combination of metals, of diamond, emarald, rubies, stones etc., and having them consecrated with due ceremonjes; by having temples of Jinésvaras built with money earned by honest deal ings, and having idols of Jinddvaras installed in them; by getting worn out delapidated temples of Jinésvaras repaired and re-built, and by constantly worshipping the pratimās of Jinésvaras--with cleanliness with regard to angani body ),-manas ( mind ), vastra ( clothes ) bhūmikā (place), and pūjopakarapa (articles and utensils of worship) from nyāyopārjita drauya (articles, utensils etc., bought by money obtained by honest dealings) and vidhi (due ceremony) separately with eight, seventeen, or twenty-one articles; the abhisekas to be done twenty-seven times or one hundred and eight times as in Laghu-enätra or Brihat-snätra respectively. It occupies the fore-most place among the Panca Paramesthi (the five exalted dignitaries ] extolled in the panca parameşthi mahā-mantra [ the anspicious incantation-panca parameşthi namaskāra mahā-mantra ) which is the real essence of the Siddhántas preached by the Jinégvaras.
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