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The Unknown Pilgrims
In addition to the bhaktis, there are two other elements which play a considerable part in the Digambara form of worship: the offering of a great variety of pūjās and the utilisation of mantras.56
656
As for the text of the rite of dikṣa, this is the same for an āryikā as for a muni, but the vows of an aryikā, which are, so far as she is concerned, absolute, receive a lower rating, according to Digambara belief, in the hierarchy of values; in comparison with the vows of a muni they are of a lower degree. For this reason, it is always an ācārya who presides over the dikṣā of an ǎryikā, while a gaṇini is not authorised to do so.
Here is the order of proceedings in the rite of dikṣā.
Preparation
After residing for a while with the ganini, the vairāgiņi must obtain the permission of the ācārya and of her family. Next, a subha-muhūrta, propitious day, is chosen for the ceremony. The preparations for it may last for several days. In a temple where a siddha-cakra is to be found,57 a pūjā is offered, such as that of caritra-suddhi, for purification, which may last a week or that of ratnatraya, the Three Jewels. It is performed by the śrāvakas and śrāvikās and the vairāgiņi
56 The subject of mantras is too vast and too complex to be considered here, for it requires a separate study; cf. Namaskara-mantra ( P 33); JSK III, pp. 256-258; P 379 ff. As for the various pūjās, the aryikās and kṣullikās, like the sädhvis, offer inner worship and take no direct part in the temple pūjās, but they encourage the performance of them and may be present, in an attitude of recollection, during a pūjā that is taking place.
57 The siddha-cakra is a yantra (diagram) in honour of the parameșthins; among the Digambaras it is commonly called the nava-devatā; in addition to the parameṣthins the following are also venerated: caitya, the statue of a jina; caityalaya, the temple; dharma-cakra, the Wheel of the Law; śruta, the Scripture; cf. U.P. Shah, 1955, pp. 97-103.
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