The Jain 1992 04 Special Issue

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

Page 25

SAMAYIKA
The etymology of the word samayika is uncertain though it is traditionally associated with the Sanskrit sama, meaning mental tranquillity or equanimity. The Prakrit form of samayika is samaiya. Samayika is the first of the avasyakas or necessary duties, central to the life of the mendicant and regularly practised by the laity. It is also included as the first (by some writers, second) of the four siksavratas, spiritual disciplines, whilst the regular practice (thrice daily) of Samayika places the lay person at the third stage, or pratima, of spiritual progress. Samayika involves a period when the individual engages in mental tranquillity or indifference to passions, lifelong for the monk or nun, for a short time, usually 48 minutes, for the lay person. (Fortyeight minutes, one thirtieth part of a day, one muhurta, is an ancient Indian measure of time). Although Samayika can involve pure meditation, the two are not identical: Samayika may also be performed while studying a religious text, repeating sacred phrases (mantra) or hymns, or listening to a sermon. The rite may be performed at home or in the temple, in the presence of a monk or before a bookstand and sacred book substituting for the monk, individually or in congregation. Some writers suggest that Samayika should take place only in a quiet place, even perhaps a clearing in a forest.
The devotce, wearing clean clothes, will provide himself with a woollen mat to sit on, a muhapatti (cloth for covering the mouth, generally a clean white piece of cotton cloth, which is used in the symbolic purification mentioned later) and a charavala (soft brush as carried by a monk). The individual should approach Samayika with a mind free from fear or rancour towards anyone. Before sitting down he or she will examine the place for any tiny living creatures and will gently remove them with charavala.
I ask forgiveness for injury on the path of my movement, in coming and in going, in treading on living beings ... whatever living beings with one, two, three, four or five senses have been injured by me ... or frightened, removed or killed, may I be forgiven for the evil action. [Note: The concluding formula, micchami dukkadam, signifies repentance and seeks forgiveness.] Then the Tassa Uttari Karnenan Sutra, is recited to achieve further purification of the soul. After this comes the Annatha Usasianan Sutra, where the devotee takes a vow to remain in the Kayotsarga (meditation without moving the body) while he mentally concentrates on either four Namokkaras or one Logassa). This is followed by recitation of the Logassa sutra, a prayer worship naming the twenty-four Tirthankaras Khama-saman sutra Samayika Muhapatti: Padilehan (Ritual of checking Muhapatti on all sides) - and reciting in mind to remove all worldly thoughts and meditating on only religious matters or reading scriptures. Khama-saman Icchakaren Sandisah Bhagwan, Samayik Sandisahu, (Ritual for seeking permission from the guru for performing Samayika) Khamasaman Icchakaren Sandisah Bhagwan, Samyik Tha-Un Ichham (Ritual for performing Samayika) Nammokar Mantra Ichhakari Bhagwan Pasay Kari Samayik Dandak Ucharavoji (Requesting Guru or elderly respected person to tell the directions for Samayika) Karemi Bhante Sutra (promising to avoid harmful activities and repenting of them): I perform, Lord, the samayika, relinquishing harmful deeds for as long as I am in Samayik, whether I have done them or used them to be done by others, nor will I do them or cause them to be done by others, with mind or speech or body: I express contrition for them and reprehend them and repent of them, and I cast aside my past self. The devotee then settles down to the 48 minutes of the Samayika. The Samayika is ended with a further repetition of the Iriyavahiya, Khama-Samana and Icchakara sutras, and the symbolic padilehan with the muhapatti is repeated. Lastly the Namokkara Mantra is said again and the Samayika concludes with an assertion that the lay person, for the duration of the Samayika, is in the same state as a monk or nun, the Samaiya-Vaya-Jutto Sutra,
The devotee then recites:
the Namokkara Mantra (Namo arihantanam, expressing obeisance to the five paramesthi (venerables)
the Panchindiya Sutra (which praises the religious teacher as possessing virtucs; if a monk is not present, a scripture is placed to symbolise the guru before whom the Samayika is observed).
Khama-Samana Sutra, (worship of the monk who suffers with equanimity):
I wish. O ascetic who suffers with equanimity, to praise you with strong concentration. I bow my head in praise.
the Iryavahiyan Sutra (a formula for the harm caused inadvertently by one's asking forgiveness):
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