Tuesday 18 September 2012

In the temple (Derasar)


When we go to temple, we wear simple or special clothes just for the temple. We do not wear silk or leather articles. We take a bath before going to temple, and if not, then at least be in a clean condition. As we get close to the temple, and if we could see the idols of Jinas from outside, then say "Namo Jinanam" while placing folded hands over slightly bent forehead which means "I salute Jina". Before entering the temple, we take off shoes. After this, we do the ten different things in a given sequence and each of these ten things has three different ways of doing them. Therefore, some people call them "Dashtrik". These ten things are:
  1. Nissihi (renunciation)
  2. Pradakshina (circumambulation - going around the Jina�s idol)
  3. Pranam (salutation)
  4. Puja (worship)
  5. Avasthachintan (contemplation upon the various states of the Lord)
  6. Dishatyag (do not look here and there, but look only at the Jina�s idol)
  7. Pramarjan (cleaning the ground before sitting down)
  8. Alamban (support)
  9. Mudras (postures for meditation)
  10. Pranidhan (be absorbed)
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  1. Nissihi (Renunciation): Nissihi means renunciation (give up). It is said three times in the temple. The first "Nissihi" is said while entering the temple to discard all the thoughts relating to worldly affairs (Samsar). The second "Nissihi" is said while entering the actual area of the Jina idol (gabharo) to discard thinking of such things as the cleaning of the temple and its management. The third "Nissihi" is said right after finishing the worship with physical substances (dravyapuja) and at the beginning of psychic worshipping (Chaityavandan).
  2. Pradakshina (Circumambulation): We keep the holy substances always on our right side. Therefore, we circumambulate (go around) Jina idols three times keeping them on our right side, that is from our left to the right. While going around, we remind ourselves that Arihants are precious, that they are our mentor, and that one day we will be like them. This contemplation of the Arihants would help us overcome attachment and hatred. Three circumambulations should also remind us that there are three remedies to overcome attachment and hatred; they are right jnan (gnan), right darshan, and right charitra. Therefore, we should also contemplate how to acquire them. Some feel as if they are going around Samavasaran itself.
  3. Pranam (Salutation): We salute the idols of Arihants three times. 1) The first salutation is offered at the time of first seeing the idols of Arihants (usually at the time of entering temple) with placing the folded hands over slightly bent forehead and saying Namo Jinanam. 2) The second salutation is done with folded hands and bowed body as we enter the gabharo. 3) The third salutation is done while performing the glorifying prayers (Chaityavandan - psychic worshipping) while touching the ground with five limbs (2 knees. 2 hands and the forehead) bent down. This is called Panchangapranipat.
  4. Puja (worship): There are three kinds of worships offered: 1) The first worship is called Angapuja. This is done by touching the different parts of an idol of Arihant with water or milk, sandal wood paste and saffron, and a flower. 2) The second worship is called Agrapuja, which is done by placing incense, lamp, rice, fruit and sweets in front of idols. First and second worships together make the worship by eight kinds, Ashtprakari puja. These two are called physical worship. 3) The third worship is called Psychic (Bhava-puja) which is done by chanting glorifying prayers (Chaityavandan).
  5. Avasthachintan (Contemplating on the different states of Arihants): After completing the physical worship, one must carry out this contemplation. The male person should stand on the right side of idol of Arihant (that is the left side if facing the idol) while the woman should stand on left side of it (that is the right side if facing the idol). Standing this way, we should contemplate on the three different states which Arihants went through. They are 1) Pindastha avastha, 2) Padastha avastha, and 3) Aroopastha avastha.In Pindastha avastha we contemplate on his a) Janmavastha, b) Rajyavastha, and c) Shramanavastha.

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