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27. Eight auspicious symbols: 28. Hasta Mudras:
29. Eightfold Yoga:
Karma restricts the enjoyment or use of objects and wouldnt allow a powerful person to use his capacity. This world is run on all the eight types of Karmas as mentioned above. This Karma dominates all beings. Behind the major or minor activities of all men, gods, infernal beings and animals some Karma of the previous life or this life serves as the motive force. As long as such Karma dominates life, there is bondage of the world, births and deaths in the world and mental afflictions, diseases and botherations. The soul which goes on eclipsing the dominance of such Karma through virtues such as non-violence, truth, selfcontrol, austerity, renunciation etc. would be completely liberated from all such Karmas in one of the births and then being liberated, becomes a liberated soul. These eight auspicious symbols are adopted from Kalpa Sutra (Pajjo Savana-Kappa) of the mediaeval age. The sequence is slightly changed. For further explanation see the explanation for strip number 3.
62 Mudra means a particular form of figures created by both the hands (excluding the other parts of the body) These forms and figures are created with the fingers, the fist and the hand. Mudras are an important part of Mantra practice, installation rites, and Yoga practice. These Mudras are for pleasing gods, for attracting gods through Mantra recitation and for gaining wealth, prosperity, knowledge and dominance. A person 63 who can perfectly practise these Mudras with Mantras can do good or evil and can cure many diseases and remove difficulties. Many Mudras are given in ancient books but here only those Mudras which are very useful 64 are given. The first six Mudras given in the strip are used for religious rites associated with Siddhachakra, Rishi Mandal etc. and in the Mantra recitations of Vardhamana Vidya and Suri-Mantra. Some of the rest are useful for AnjanaShalaka installation. Religious books have shown those Mudras which are used for religious rites. Mudras useful for music, dance and dramas are given in their respective books. Yoga means eight fold practices for meditation. Yoga is the technique of liberation through joining the path of liberation Eight stages of Yoga are recognised by the Jain, Vedic and Buddhist cultures. The names of these stages of Yoga are given with the names in the strip. The first illustration is about Yama (restriction) in standing position. The second is about Niyama (Observances) taking certain vows, the third is about, the Padma Asana (Posture), the fourth one is about Pranayama (control of bio energy). As the practice of Pratyahara (abstraction), Dharana (concentration) and Dhyana (Meditation) cannot be expressed in outward appearance, the three following figures are shown as the same. Only in the eighth illustration the additional halo is drawn. As a result of the practice of the eightfold Yoga one attains the status of Ishvar-supreme being, shown in the last symbol. The definitions of the eight stages of Yoga are given below. (1) Yama means to accept the five vows of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-hoarding, for the whole life in a befitting way. (2) Niyama (observances) means to renounce the objects of pleasure in a befitting manner and to practise purity, contentment, spiritual study, austerity, meditation etc.. It also includes regulation in life, the five Samitis, the three Guptis and various restrictions. (3) Asana (Posture) means either to stand or sit comfortably after giving up unsteadiness. This includes many postures such as the lotus posture, the posture of perfection, the sword - posture etc., Gradually stage by stage more postures are added till one gains perfect mastery over them. (4) Pranayama (the control of bio energy) means control over respiration, practised in these stages of inhalation, holding the breath and exhalation, which in Yogic terminology are called Puraka. Kumbhaka and Rechaka respectively. (5) Pratyahara (abstraction, means to withdraw the mentalmodification from the five Senses and their objects (6) Dharana(concentration) to make the projection of the mind steady on any stationary or moving objects, Pada or subject.(7) Dhyana (Meditation means to make the mind fully concentrated in the previous practice or to mentally instal any Mantra Beeja or a Pada at the navel in the heart or on the forehead (i.e. by completely avoiding evil meditation and adopting good meditation) to be one with it. (8) Samadhi (Superconsciousness) when concentration is perfected and when the mind becomes free from all thoughts, thus completely peaceful state is achieved wherein one becomes absorbed in the soul. The aspirant of Yoga gradually and stage by stage passes through these eight steps through practice and at some time he reaches Samadhi, the final superconscious state. When one reaches the state of Samadhi, realization of Supreme state becames easy. On the external plane physical and mental disorders can be relieved with Yoga technique. Again, during the practice of Yoga and austerity many miraculous powers can also be achieved and amazing feats are performed, but a true virtuous Yogi would hardly use such miraculous powers. He concentrates all his energy to achieve the best and the highest power of right knowledge, right perception and right character. Internally Yoga leads the soul to reach the perfect, spiritual state and to bring spiritual liberation near. At present more and more people are attracted towards Yoga. Europeans and Americans who have reached the climax of material prosperity and who are saturated with such material happiness and who constantly feel dissatisfaction are highly impressed by Yoga. Outwardly also they experience peace in many ways and enjoy health, through Yoga.
Note: 62. Mudras formed by other parts of the body are not given here. Note: 63. How a certain form created by the hand or the body can play the role in good or bad result is still a mystery Note: 64. For detailed dlustrated introduction to Mudras see sangeeta Ratnakara Sangeeta Parijata etc. Nirvana Kalika, Pratishtha books,
Achara Dinkara, Vidhi-Marga-Prapa etc. Jain texts, English Books and Magazines Note: 65. Mokshopayo Yogaha.
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