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PRATIKRAMAN
The soul, in its pure form, has infinite
perception, infinite knowledge, infinite vigor, and is non-attached. These
attributes are not seen in a worldly soul because it is soiled with karmas. By
following religious principles and pious activities, we overcome our karmas and
uplift our souls to the liberation. There are various kinds of religious
activities, sometimes called the rituals, and among them the pratikraman is one
of the most important ritual. During pratikraman we repent for our
non-meritorious activities on a daily basis. We realize our mistakes and ask for
the forgiveness, which helps us to minimize the intensity of the karmas as well
as it helps to get rid of the karmic bondage. Pratikraman is a combination of
six avshyakas (essential rituals). They are:
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Samayik - a state of equanimity
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Chauvisantho - worshipping the twenty-four
Tirthankars
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Vandana - offering salutations to the sadhus
(monks) and the sadhvis (nuns)
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Pratikraman - realizing what we have done
wrong and annotating on it
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Kayotsagga - meditation of the soul
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Pratyakhyan - renunciation
Samayik
In the samayik, we stay in equanimity for
forty-eight minutes. During samayik not only we give up all the worldly affairs,
but we also stay away from attachment and aversion. This activity helps us to
pacify our passions and desires. To get ready for the samayik, we put on simple,
clean white clothes, and occupy a quiet place. While in the samayik, we recite
the Navkar Mantra, read scriptures, perform meditation, etc. The samayik gives
us a glimpse of the life of the sadhus who live in samayik through out their
whole life. It directly encourages us to lead to the life of a sadhu or sadhvi.
Chauvisantho
Chauvisantho means adoration of the
twenty-four Tirthankaras. By reciting it, we show our respect for the
twenty-four Tirthankaras. While reciting this we are reminded of how victorious
were these Jinas, who overcame the inner enemies like anger, ego, greed, and
deceit, etc., and this encourages us to be like them. It is also called
Chaturvinshatistava.
Vandana
During vandana, we bow down to the monks and
the nuns and express our reverence to them. They are our current religious
guides, and preceptors. While bowing down, we become humble, and thus, this
helps us to overcome the ego and the anger. It also inspires us to become like
them. (If there is no monk or nun then we bow down in the North-East direction
to Arihantas who are currently living far away from here.)
Pratikraman
Pratikraman is the combination of two words,
Pra meaning return and atikraman meaning violation. Literally, it means
returning from the violations. As Jain householders, we are supposed to observe
the twelve minor vows to minimize the violence towards other living beings which
in turn minimizes the damage to our own souls. During Pratikraman we review our
activities for any violations that might have occurred during these vows. In
this way, we ask for the forgiveness for our actions and purify our souls, and
improve our future activities. If we have not taken these vows, then we should
wish for such a day to come when we could take those vows.
Pratikraman is usually done twice a day: once
in the morning, Raisi (morning) Pratikraman, to repent for the things we might
have done during the night time and once in the late evening Devasi (evening)
Pratikraman to repent for the things we might have done during the day time.
Those who are unable to perform daily pratikraman should do a Pakshik
(fortnightly) Pratikraman, which is done once every fifteen days. There are some
that can not find even time for that; they should do a Choumasi (quarterly)
Pratikraman, once every four months. However, if someone can not find time for
that, then they should do Samvatsari (yearly) Pratikraman, once a year which is
considered a must for every Jain. By repenting during the pratikraman, we lessen
the bondage of karma to our soul and avoid committing the same sins in the
future. If we do not repent for our deeds at least once a year, then the bondage
of karmas to the soul becomes severe and even harder to shed off. In all
reality, one should perform pratikraman as soon as one realizes he or she has
committed a sin.
Kayotsargga
The word kayotsargga is made up of two words
Kaya meaning body and utsarga meaning to give up. Kayotsargga means to give up
one’s physical comfort and body movements, thus staying steady, either in a
standing or other posture, and concentrating upon the true nature of the soul as
being separate from the body or recite navakar mantra or Chauvisantho. This is a
form of meditation and by practicing pure kayotsargga we slowly gain control on
our mental, verbal, and physical activities.
Pratyakhyan
This is a formal renunciation of certain
activities, which reduces or stops the inflow of the karmas. Pratyakhyan helps
us to learn to control our desires and prepares us for the bigger renunciation.
Thus, the pratikraman helps us to restrain,
appreciate others who have done a good job and lead us to their paths. |
