Book Title: World of Conquerors
Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: Natubhai Shah

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Page 260
________________ Concluding Ritual (udyapaan): The concluding ritual involves honouring the participants, and giving them a gift to mark the final day of an auspicious religious observance. The observance may be the worship of the nine auspicious ones (navapad), that is the five supreme beings' (parmesthis): arihant, siddha, aacaarya, upaadhyaaya and saadhu, the three jewels: Right knowledge, Right Faith, Right Conduct and the austerity (tapa) or the veneration of the 'twenty auspicious ones' (visa-sthaanaka): a four hundred day ritual venerating the attributes and pious activities of twenty auspicious ones; or the vow of forty-five days of alternate fasting and eating (upadhaan) with traditional daily religious activities. Glorification of the Order (tirtha prabhaavana): This ritual promotes Jainism and the Jain way of life through celebrations of the occasions such as the arrival of ascetics at a particular place, holy days or holy occasions, and consecration ceremonies. Atonement (suddhi): In this ritual, one confesses one's faults in front of an ascetic, usually every fortnight, every four months, or once a year, and performs penance. Lifetime Obligations: At least once in the lifetime, laypeople are expected to: Build a temple, or help to build one, which is considered a meritorious act that helps spiritual advancement. During the construction, one must take care in the choice of land, the use of materials and the utilisation of honestly acquired wealth. One should bear in mind the purity and purpose of a temple building and be honest in all dealings related to it, and encourage the artisans by being just to them. Donate a consecrated jina image to a temple. Participate in an image installation ceremony. Celebrate the renunciation of a son, daughter or another family member. Celebrate the birth, initiation or liberation of prominent ascetics. Commission the writing of religious works, and the publishing and the public reading of the scriptures. Build an upashraya, prayer hall or bhojansaalaa (dining hall). Take the vows or the pratimaas of a sraavaka (see chapter 4.10) (Bhuvanbhanu 1978: pp.188-193). 260

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