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Pratikramaņa: An Unparalleled Contribution of.... :99
enriching in very very true sense. The practice of pratikramana which is essentially a Jaina practice is one such contribution to Indian culture. Even if it has taken the form of a ritual but it is not a lifeless ritual. It is a source of awakening and vigilance for both the individual and the society.
The rituals of pratikramana and Kṣamāpanā (which has a harrower connotation) are commonly observed among Jains and are favourably reacted to, in our neighbourhood communities. The monks recite pratikranaṇa-sūtra twice a day unfailingly. The householders or lay people observe this daily or fortnightly or monthly or four-monthly or at least once a year, on the Samvatsari day on the fifth day of the full moon fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. i.e. the last day of the Paryusaṇa festival. The festival of Paryusana symbolizes the ideal of social solidarity. It embodies four basic aspects of samatā or equality. These are (1) respect for life- the essence of Ahimsa which is the central pivot of Jaina ethics (2) the respect for mind or for intellectual freedom- the basis of Jaina theory of Anekantavāda and Syādvāda, (3) respect for individual's personal effort, his freedom and autonomy- the underlying theory of Karma that holds the individual himself responsible for his happiness or misery (4) respect for equal spiritual potentiality of all individuals or souls. All beings are equal with no difference of caste, creed or birth. This is the true picture of Jaina culture if there are any deviations or distortions they are not in accordance to the true spirit of Jaina culture. Paryusaṇa festival epitomizes these ideals. The yearly celebration of this festival is not supposed to be just an outward ritual but a practice of inward introspection and purification. The essence of this festival is Pratikramaņa along with other religious practices and rituals associated with the festival such as going to the temples, listening to the sermons and teachings of the canonical texts, control of the palate in some form like taking meals only once a day during Paryusaṇa days. All these observances are only ceremonial expressions of the true spirit of self purification. It is this what is meant by Pratikramana. It literally means retracing or going back. It is retracing of the soul to its natural purity which is polluted or spoilt
