The Jain 1988 07

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Samaj Europe

Page 68

gáin
We are grateful
to
AIR-INDIA
inner shrine even the activities concerned with the outer temple are set aside. Thirdly, the word marks the completion of the physical acts of worship before the abstract worship or chaitya vandan begins. Second comes the triple circumambulation of the image from right to left. Third is the reverence to the image with folded hands and the words 'Namo Jinanam', with a deep bow and with complete obeisance. Then, as the fourth set of actions, come the three kinds of puja, anga puja with water, sandalwood paste and flowers, agra puja with incense, lights, the swastika symbol in rice grains, with sweets and with fruit, and bhava puja or chaitya vandan, worship with songs and prayers which follows the others. Then the fifth trio consests of contemplation during the puja on three stages of the Tirthankara's life, childhood, kingship and the ascetic life. Restraining the gaze from wandering in any of three directions away from the Jina image, and gently brushing tiny creatures to safety in threefold action, constitute the sixth and seventh.
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Eighthly, during the prayers and hymns of the chaitya vandan three things should be borne in mind, to enunciate them clearly rather than rushing over them, whilst following the meaning with understanding, and keeping gaze and contemplation on the image. Three mudras, positions of the hands, are appropriate during the chaitya vandan, firstly the ten fingers folded in lotus form, secondly the hands hanging loosely whilst standing, and then the hands brought together, hollow, against the forehead. The tenth point for attention is that the chaitya vandan is followed with triple concentration of mind, voice, action.
If the previous paragraphs are re-read it will be seen that the ordered tenfold sequence leads the worshipper through from entrance into the temple to reverence of the image. then into the ritual acts and offerings, and lastly into the prayers and hymns and to the conclusion of worship. Jain rituals can be very beautiful and very moving. The actions and words become familiar to the devotee so that the whole flows graciously from one stage to the next. Ritual can get mechanical, however, and it is necessary to keep the mind fixed on the object and purpose so that the familiar does not degenerate into the mindless repetition of sterile and token obeisance.
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The rituals, the ceremonies, the formal prayers and hymns lead the faithful onwardsin spiritual development. These are not the final stages of the spititual training. Beyond a certain stage the Jain will find that he or she has less and less need for external aids to devotion and worship will reach that higher level when the God is present in abstraction, not in physical image. This stage is not, yet, for everyone and the temple and its worship are there to help the aspirant onwards on the path.
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Jain Education Interational 2010_03