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II जैन
पूजा-पाठ II
The
word "Jain"
is derived from
the Sanskrit
jina,
meaning "conqueror",
an epithet given
to the
twenty-four
Tithankaras
(Ford makers),
who, through
austerity,
conquered their
minds, bodies
and passions to
attain
deliverance from
the endless
cycle of birth.
Jainism stresses
spiritual
independence and
equality of all
life with
particular
emphasis on
non-violence. It
is generally
believed that
the Jainism is
divided into two
major sects,
Digambar
and
Shvetambar.
Mahavira,
last of the
twenty-four
Fordmakers, was
the greatest of
all jain
ascetics.
Jains use the following eight items to perform puja of a Tirthankara in the temple. Symbolically each item represents a specific religious virtue and one should reflect on it while performing puja.
Jala Puja: Water
Chandan Puja: Sandal-wood
Pushpa Puja: Flower
Dhup Puja: Incense
Dipak Puja: Candle
Akshat Puja: Rice
Naivedya Puja: Sweet food
Fal Puja: Fruit
The Daily Prayer
One of the most important Jain prayers is the Namaskara Sutra which praises the five great beings of Jainism:
I bow down to those who have reached omniscience in the flesh and teach the road to everlasting life in the liberated state.
I bow down to those who have attained perfect knowledge and liberated their souls of all karma.
I bow down to those who have experienced self-realisation of their souls through self-control and self-sacrifice.
I bow down to those who understand the true nature of soul and teach the importance of the spiritual over the material.
I bow down to those who strictly follow the five great vows of conduct and inspire us to live a virtuous life.
To these five types of great souls I offer my praise.
Such praise will help diminish my sins.
Giving this praise is most auspicious.
So auspicious as to bring happiness and bliss.
The prayer of forgiveness
The prayer of forgiveness begins by forgiving all beings for anything.
I grant forgiveness to all living beings
May all the living beings please forgive me.
I have friendship with all the living beings.
I have no hostility towards anyone.
A modern Jain prayer expresses the same idea:
If shot by a gun or pistol, or beaten by a stick,
if bound and thrown into a prison,
May I lose my body,
but not my noble forgiveness.
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