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710
The Unknown Pilgrims
B - The order of the rite
The rite is performed morning and evening according to a fixed order 10 which there are numerous variants in accordance with the practice of the different communities. The order given here is that followed by the Sthānakavāsi sādhvis.58 The main rite is preceded by a lesser preliminary rite, called the kşetra-visuddhi, the purification of mind and body. 59
1. Kşctra-visuddhi
i) The laghu-guruvandana-sútra (to request permission to perform the kşctra-viếuddhi).60
ii) The Namaskāra-sútra.
iii) The laghu-guruvandana-sutra.
58 This text of the order followed in the rite of the avaśyakas was given to me by Mahāsati Tarulată of the Gondelgaccha in Gujarāta. Mahăsati gave me the necessary explanations in Madrās in December 1979 and October
1980. The sadhvis, either standing or seated on the ground (a which sútra is being recited), facing either North or East, form a semi-circle around the guruņi, who is either standing or seated on a wooden stool at practically ground level. As the rite proceeds, the guruņi makes the same gestures as the rest of the group, including the standing posture, pañcănganamaskara, but she remains seated when the sādhvis salute her with the guruvandana. All the sūtras are recited by heart by one sadhvi, taken up by a second and thus recited in rotation.
59 Kșetra: a field, place, region; here, the "field" is the body wherein the atman dwells. The purification extends to the włole person. This explanation was given me by Mahāsati Tarulatā; it could also be interpreted as applying to the place where the rite is being performed, cf. Śrāvaka Pratikramaņa-sūtra, p. 32.
60 This refers to the much-used short guruvandana. If the guruņi is absent, permission is requested from Sri Simandhara, the tirtharkara of Videhakşetra, which is closest to our own continent; cf. P 76; 80; 676.
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