Way of Life Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 17

DISCOURSE 1
worshipped the great work DHARMABINDU. You have performed this MANGALA or inaugural worship. The MANGALA has the power of destroying impediments. Our great sages have made a statement on the basis of their experience. They say:
"Many impediments obstruct good deeds. श्रेयांसि बहुविघ्नानि.
This series of discourses is a very noble and sacred activity. Many impediments may appear which may impede it. Hence, if we perform the inaugural worship and offer a prayer, with our hearts overflowing with the emotion of devotion, impediments will not obstruct or mar our activity; on the contrary, impediments get automatically destroyed. The writers of social or detective fiction do not offer a prayer in the beginning; probably impediments do not arise on their path. How can impediments appear? That action is not a lofty one. Impediments appear only in the case of sacred activities; and in the case of lofty undertakings. The composition of scriptures is a lofty undertaking; hence, at the commencement of such a work, it is necessary to perform a worship and offer a prayer. The great writers of such granthas conform to the convention of offering a prayer in the beginning. Well, who would not conform to a convention begun by great sages? Those who have faith and intellectual discrimination would surely conform to such a sacred convention.
THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INAUGURAL WORSHIP WITH DEVOTION
The writer was a great Jain acharya. He was a Nirgranta (One who had destroyed all worldly bondages). Therefore, he could not perform the worship with holy substances which are normally used for worship. He performed a Bhavamangal (Offering only the emotion of devotion). The salutation offered to the Paramatma is itself Bhavamangal. That salutation has the extraordinary power of rooting out; and eradicating all impediments. This is spiritual power. Now, listen. The author offers his invocation thus :
“प्रणस्य परमात्मानं समुद्धृत्य श्रुतार्णवात् । unfärg gaguıfı atufärgfnatçu: "1"