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Āryikās: The Digambara Sādhvis
663
arhat.70 Sāmāyika is a community rite, but, if there is a valid reason for doing so, an āryikā may perform it alone. As often as possible it takes place in the temple. Before penetrating within, the āryikās wash their hands and feet and then, repeating in a low voice the word "nisahi, nisahi, nisahi,71 they enter the sanctuary. After a praņāma, salutation to the image of the jinendra, they make three pradakşiņās, circumambulations of the temple from left to right, reciting the while a hymn of praise in vandanamudră and saluting each of the cardinal points with three avartas and one śironati.
The vidhi then proceeds in this way:
- recitation of the iryāpatha-śuddhi, standing or seated;72
- kāyotsarga in the jinamudră posture, during which they recite mentally nine japas of the Namaskāra-mantra accompanied by twentyseven ucсhvāsas, respiratory movements;73.
- recitation of the ālocanā of the iryāpatha in paryankāsana;
- pañcărga-namaskāra;74
- three ävartas, one sironati;
70 Re. devas, cf. P 203 ff.
71 The aryikās repeat "nisahi" 3 times when they arrive at the temple, on entering the vasatikāsthāna, and similarly "asahi" 3 times on leaving these places; nisahi in order to request permission to enter from the gods, spirits and yaksas who inhabit them, and asahi, permission to leave; cf. AD VIII, 132-133; Jñānamati, 1976, p. 47; JSK I, p. 218.
72 The text is essentially the same as AvaS 16 (P 706).
73 Each kāyotsarga is performed in this way.
74 The prostration of the five members (P 323). Before each prostration the ground must be swept with the picchikā.
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