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6. SIDDHA-CAKRA OR NAVA-DEVATĀ
The Siddha-Cakra is a very popular (tantric ) yantra (diagram) in the Jaina cult. It is constituted of the Panca-Parameşthins or The Five Supreme Ones and the four Essentials for Salvation, together forming the Nava-Pada or nine padas.' The worship of the Siddha.Cakra (Circle of the Siddhas or Sacred Ones) alias Navapada (Diagram formed of Nine Dignities?) even to day very popular in the Jaina Samgha, forms an interesting study not only on account of its antiquity but also for its importance in the Jaina theology. Amongst the Svetāmbaras, the diagram is more popular as Siddha-Cakra, whereas the Digambara sect worships it as Nava-Devatā. There is however, some difference in the two diagrams, the Pañca-Parameșthins remaining common to both. But essentially both are one, since it is the worship of these Five Supreme ones that is mainly emphasised. The Five Supreme Ones of the PañcaParameşthi-mantra? are Arhat, Siddha, Ācārya, Upadhyâya and Sadhu and denote the very essence of Jaina religious practice. The fo8 qualities (guņas) of these Five Supreme Ones s are to be meditated upon in this worship. In the Svetāmbara practice, i.e., in the worship of the Siddha-Cakra, besides the above five are worshipped the four essentials (or the four-fold religion), namely, samyak-jñāna, samyak-darśana, samyak-căritra, and samyak-tapa, constituting the fourfold virtus made of the Right Knowledge, Right Faith, Right Conduct, and Right Penance.
1 Pada' is explained as Dignity. It is not any particular person (or persons) that is worshipped but the 'pada' or Dignity, i. e, merits or virtuesassociated with him. In practice however figures of the Five Parameşthins are carved or painted.
2 The Mantra is obtained in the beginning of the Bhagavati sūtra, the Kalpa-sūtra and in the Mahāniśitha, 3rd adhyayana. Bhadra bāhu has discussed the Five Padas of this mantra in his Namaskāra-Nir yukti.
3 The Arhats are emancipated souls of whom the Tirthankaras establish the four-fold tirtha or the Jaina Samgha. They are said to possess 46 qualities which can be regrouped into 12; the Siddhas or emancipated souls who have left their ethereal bodies and who reside on the Siddha-Silä on top of the Universe, have 8 chief qualities; the Ācāryas who are heads of the various groups of Jaina monks are endowed with 36 principal qualities; the Upadhyayas are those monks who teach scriptures and have 25 chief merits; the Sådhus are all other Jaina monks, who have 27 chief qualities besides other subsidiary ones.
4 For an explanation of these concepts see, Siri Sirivālakahā, vv. 24-34.
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