Mar
6
Jain Rituals of Every day
March 6, 2007 |
The rituals are interwoven with the daily life of a pious Jain. Spreading the grain for the birds in the morning, filtering or boiling the water for the next few hours’ use are ritual acts of charity and non-violence.
It must be said that there is a narrow dividing line between the symbolism and the superstition. Some people, claiming to be rational, dismiss all the ritual acts as superstitious. That is to a big misunderstanding. The Jina idols have no miraculous powers but the splendor of the temple, the beauty of the words and chants, all help the worshipper towards a reverent state of mind. Some people can do without these external props but others should not scorn those who value them.
Samayika
Samayika is the practice of equanimity, translating to meditation, is a ritual act undertaken early in the morning and perhaps also at noon and night. It lasts for forty-eight minutes (Two Ghadis - one-thirtieth part of the day, an Indian unit of time) and involves usually not just quiet recollection but also usually the repetition of routine prayers.
Pratikramana
Pratikramana should be performed in the morning for the repentance of violence committed during the night, and in the evening for the violence during the day and additionally on certain days of the year. During this, the Jain expresses remorse for the harm caused, or wrong doing, or the duties left undone.
Worship or prayers of Jain Idol
Worship before the Jain idols, bowing to the idols, and lighting a lamp in front of the idols is an ideal way to start the day for many Jains. More elaborate forms of worship (puja), as described, is a regular daily ritual usually done in the temple. The worshipper enters the temple with the words ‘Namo Jinanam’ ‘I bow to the Jina’, and repeats three times, ‘Nisihii’ (to relinquish thoughts about worldly affairs). The simpler surroundings of the household shrine can als provide a suitable setting. The members of some sects of Jainism don’t believe in worship of the Jina image. They believe in meditation and silent prayers. Worship, or puja, can take many forms.
1. The ritual bathing of the image (Snatra Puja) is symbolic to the bathing of the newborn Tirthankara by the gods (celestial beings). A simple symbolic act is to touch one’s forehead with the liquid used to bath the idol. Bathing the idol also takes place during the Panch Kalyanak Puja, a ritual to commemorate the five great events of the Tirthankara’s life, namely conception, birth, renunciation, omniscience and moksa.
2. Antaraya Karma Puja comprises a series of prayers to remove those karmas which obstruct the spiritual uplifting power of the soul. A lengthy temple ritual which can take three days to complete is the
3. Arihanta Puja, paying respect to the arihants.
4. There is a ritual of prayer focused on the siddhachakra, a lotus-shaped disc bearing representations of the arhat, the liberated soul, religious teacher, religious leader and the monk (the five praiseworthy beings), as well as the four qualities namely perception, knowledge, conduct and austerity to uplift the soul.
