JAINISM--SEQUENCE OF NAVKAR MANTRA-----------!!!

Recently I attended Jainism camp for kids.It meant to introduce meaning of Navkar Mantra and some preliminary basics of Jainism. Gurudeo delivered the lecture and shared some information. Lastly it was questions and answers session. Two questions impressed me most. I share them with readers of this blog  to enhance knowledge.
1-Q.--Why we bow to Arihant Bhagwan before Siddha Bhagwan though achievement wise Siddhas have reached their ultimate goal of salvation and Arihant have still some more time to get salvation?
2-Q--Why all (Savva) word is used only before Sadhuji and not other four deities  in Navkar Mantra ?.Is there any specific reason behind it

Gurudeo's answers which were based on 01 Shatak of Aagam book
Bhagwatisutra's introductory part are shared for addition to our Jain -ism basic knowledge of this great and unique Mantra in this blog.

   1-A--It is true that Siddha Bhagwan are senior to Arihant Bhagwan with reference to goal obtained but we have more obligations to

repay for Arihant Bhagwan. The reason being they have introduced us to Jinwani and Siddha Bhagwan. More over Arihanta Bhagwan is founder of Thirth having four components--Sadhu, Sadhwi. Shrawak and Shrawika. Some of fortunate human being ( like presently in the Mahavidehakhetra ) can worship Arihant Bhagwan physically while only Kevaldyani can see Siddha Bhagwan. The reason being that Siddaha are in body less form and Arihants have bodily presence.
With the same logic first bowing is not done to Aacharyaji since he is reproducing Jinwani of Arihant Bhagwan who is first original preacher. Upadhyaji has expert knowledge of all thirty two Aagams.

What we hear from Suguru was first told by Arihant Bhagwan only. 

   2-A-Savva word is used in fifth Padha because here Sadhuji covers all Sadhuji from all corners of universe. All Sadhuji term cover soul falling in 6th to14th Gunsthan irrespective of any gender or caste. It
is bowing to soul possessing all virtues of those specified Gunastan and marching on road as per Jinawani. The respect is not limited  to monks in specified white dress or without any dress.

All Siddha Bhagwan reside at one place only, known as Siddhalay or Siddhasheela. Hence there is no need for all word. On the other hand number of Arihant Bhagwan is always fixed, it may be minimum 20 or maximum 160/170 depending upon the particular period involved.
Thus for first two Padha all word is not required. Aacharyaji and Upadhyaji are covered by term Sadhuji, Number  of Sadhuji- monks is comparatively high which is minimum 2000 crores and maximum 9000 crores at any given point of time. Hence "Savva" used to give

emphasis that no deserving soul is excluded from bowing down.

The delight on the face of kids with satisfactory answer by Gurudeo bought smile on my face . I left the venue with due bowing to Gurudeo. A curious kid  can be a great source of knowledge indeed.

JAI JINEDRA---------------!!!------ JAI MAHAVEER-----------!!!.

JAINISM-SEARCH OF GOD---------!!!.

Friends, I read  very interesting poem on net today. With due thanks to The unknown poet, I am sharing it's meaning with you. The poet says that today God has taken leave and is not present in Temple or any other holy places due to His prior undefined commitments. The poem was titled as "Today God is not in Temple."

In case you have urgent need to meet him, he is available with some spots. These spots covers-----Hospitals, old-age homes, Schools for blinds, orphans. He is also available at places of flood. earth quakes, refugee camps ,droughts and like natural tragedies if one needs Him.
   The poet further tells that once you visit these spots and offer your services there ,you will forget your personal complaints and will give up your plans to meet God and come back with more determination to serve less privileged ones with full vigor and enthusiasm. I feel he is correct in many ways .His different line of thinking is too beautiful

The entire faith of our planet earth can be divided in two main parts. One is believers of God and other being non-believers. The believers in God can further be classified as believers in statue as a symbol and otherwise. There are so many sub sections for believers as to form of God ,His location, His functions and His behavior towards all of his devotees as per various religions. Surprisingly exact truth is missing.

It is very difficult to go into each details and  to draw a common conclusion. But we can draw a common link that if He exists, he must have shown the correct path of good conduct so that one can remove all sorrows and can have permanent solution for happiness .
Clear understanding of God is very much essential otherwise there is risk in following in trap of self proclaimed God is very much evident from so many fraud cases detected from our own country India.

As I know some basics of it from Jainism which I try to summarize in following lines. As per Jainism there is God. One is in human body form known as Arihant Bhagwan and second one in only soul form known as Siddha Bhagwan residing at top of this universe.

The Universe is self created without beginning and end. The Karma doctrine governs entire on going of Universe. One's Karma and right conduct ,faith and knowledge leads to salvation in form of pure soul. Such souls are free from cycles of life and death for ever. Jainism treat God as guide ,mentor and philosopher for salvation and does not treat him as controlling authority showering blessings or curses.

Which ever faith one carries right conduct in form of service to the living creatures is utmost important to get salvation as told by above poet. No doubt one can visit the holy places to gain positive energy, inspiration and motivation to serve the humanity in a better ways.
Naturally one must be free from asking some thing or other for self  The visit shall also be free from complaining only for noble vibes.
As per one saying if one prays for others, there remains no need for prayer for self. So let us try to find real meaning of God which can end the related search for real God. We can all worship him

JAI JINENDRA----------!!!-------- JAI MAHAVEER-------------!!!.

JAINISM-THE BEST FORM OF CHARITY---ABHAYDAAN--------!!!

Abhaydaan means to protect the soul who seeks our shelter. As per Jainism in all types of donations/charities, Abhaydaan ranks first as mentioned in Puchhisunam ( Veerstuti).It require own scarification.

A-Bhay means do not fear, I will take care of you more than myself.

With offering Abhaydaan to pigeon 16th Thirthankar Bhagwan Shri Shantinathji set a noble example in his birth as King Meghrath as given in 18th chapter of Uttaradhaynsutra titled as" Sanyatiya ".Let us study the related story of 16th Thirthkar ShantibathBhgwan .

This story goes as following lines. King Megharath was son of King Dhanarath who was ruling Pudarikini in Mahavedehakhetra. Once in fine morning while King Meghrath- was engaged in his prayer, a frightened pigeon hunted by a hawk rest down on his feet to take

shelter. The hawker asked for it's possession to quench his hunger but the king refused saying that he will protect it at any cost since the bird has sought his shelter. The hawker said he can allow it only if the king- parts with equal amount of his flesh to arrange for his food. King instantly gave his consent for it. A balance was called for for weighting. The weighing process go on in presence of  both of them,

While weighing, the weight of pigeon started to increase. Lastly the King sat on the balance to equal the weight of pigeon. The hawker and pigeon returned to original form of heavenly God and praised the king for his noble intention to protect the innocent bird anyhow.

Whenever I think of lives I found-------- Goat, Hen and Fish most unfortunate category of creatures courtesy to our foodie co brothers and sisters. These  animals have most shorter span of life due to non vegetarian people. But we forget that we may have next birth same of them. Certainly we will not like life punishment for taste. It is too surprising that even some Jain take eggs as a vegetarian food. It is nothing but fetus from womb of hen. One can ask Jain monk for it.

Thus the moral of  the story by all means ,we shall protect the lives of souls seeking our shelter. Since every one loves life and do not want to die at least by unnatural death. I hope people will review.
The Jainism doctrine 'Live and Let Live' is of immense importance.
Some of us guided by excessive greed. They milk the cows in her prime time and sell to butcher in her old days to get rid of taking care. Just give it a thought. Is it really justified on moral ground ?.

Let us being  supreme among all living souls on this planet  offer the animal, birds and others speechless creatures-Abhaydaan. With it, we will be certainly on salvation path without a slight doubt. We
may be calling ourselves as a civil society. Still riots are common in
the world everywhere. Sometimes it may color, class or sometime it
may be for caste. In such times very few bad elements are involved
but majority is protecting  other side. This is nothing but saving of
lives, Jainism terms it "Abhaydaan".Really it is best charity form.

 JAIJINEDRA---------!!!---------JAI SHANTINATHJI----------!!!.

JAINISM-DISCOVERY OF TRUTH OVER OLD FAVORITES-------!!!

In my college days ,I used to stick two wall papers in my study room for motivation. One is Sir Abraham Lincoln's letter for his son to Principal and second one was Footprint. Former has taught me very essential good qualities of conduct in life and basic true essence of becoming a good human being. Even today I do it's reading fondly. 
Second one assured me -there is some invisible force to take care reducing my examination and other worries. I am very grateful to writers of those masterpieces which provided me positive energy in my sad moments. I used to find peace by reading those composition

 Slowly with passage of time and experiments with life showed me that one has to face the difficult time with destiny with self struggle. There is no one to carry you on lap as told in Footprint. Results in life may be positive or negative .It is out of own efforts only. With turning to Jainism ,I firmly started to believe that only your Good deeds ( Punya) whether accumulated or current ,Nirjara (cutting of old or current bad deeds) and absenteeism from sins acts as invisible force to protect you when ever situation warrants silently.

Karma theory which involves around your deeds is the only one invisible force acting as God for you. Real God that is only Arihant Bhagwan and Sugurudeo can show you only right path of living and salvation. But you have to walk it yourself. One can not outsource such job to others or wait for heavenly help. Ratnatray is  precious.

 All our decisions have more than one options at a given point of time. How we select the option has far reaching effects on our lives. At this crucial juncture ,we are guided by our inner voice which is the result of Karma theory. This is what I believe now onwards.

Career, home, marriage. settlement and other numerous like major decisions are indirectly affected by this theory. So always take care of action of mind's speech and body which is shaping our Karman  body. What ever we sow will give the fruits after due time. So have the strong faith in Jainism and march to salvation. Weak person seek
heavenly help. If we have sowed the seeds let us prepare for the
resultants fruits. This basic truth I discovered from Jainism. 

JAI JINEDRA-----------!!!---------- JAI MAHAVEER---------!!!.

JAINISM-16 PRECONDITIONS OF SALVATION--------!!!

Majority of us desires salvation and are constantly working towards it by following ways shown by Jainism under guidance of Gurudeo and Aagams. In nine Tatvas of book "Mokshamarg" following 16 
conditions are specified to attain salvation. Let us do the home work based on it. With it at least we can know thise basic requirements.
It can help to check if we miss any conditions for getting liberated.

1-Only humans are capable for salvation.
2-He shall be Tras-kaay (moving) soul.
3-Shall be from five organs category-Panchedriya.
4-Shall be Sanni (with mind ).
5-Only Bhavi souls-(eligible for salvation).Giving up wrong faith.
6-Only Shuklapakshik. Means he touched "Samkit" at any point.
7-Parimit Sansari ( limited domestic lives ),He entered this zone.
   We are doing many lives due to sins. To enter in mostly cut zone.
8-Only Kshayik-samkiti.(permanent correct-knowledge, faith and conduct). He will never return to wrong faith in any circumstances.

9-Only Avedi ( free from three Ved or gender sextual desire )
10-No-Kashayi ( free from all  four Kashay- Akashayi).
11-Yathakhyat Chatityi.- ( Mohniya Karma--silent or nominal).Soul takes Diksha and becomes monk/Sadhu with 6th Gunastana. Y.C. Gunastana is obtained after 10th Gunastana.
12-Only Kevaldyani.- Means having complete  correct knowledge.
13-Only Kevaldarshini. Who can see all things of all time correctly.
14-Only Anaaaharak-( No food  in-taker).
15-Only Ayogi (Shaileshi--No action of mind, speech and body).
16-Only Aleshi (free from Leshya  or emotion)
Thus we can see that we are  moving human with mind and five organs. We can assume with our interest in Jainism that we are Bhavi. Thus we have met first  five conditions out of sixteen one.
With maximum human efforts we can aim at  next 11 conditions to have salvation. With salvation our soul can find permanent place  "Siddhasheela " for ever resting in internal peace and free from life and death cycle .Good Luck to all salvation seekers.

JAI JINEDRA--------------!!!------ JAI MAHAVEER--------!!!.

JAINISM -- TEACHINGS AND DEBTS OF BHAGWAN MAHAVEERSWAMI----------???

Our personality is being shaped by Mother, Father and Teachers to a large extent. With passage of time it gets polished with education,
experience and surroundings. Our spiritual personality is being shaped by religious holy books ,Gurudeo and noble souls of all time.
Such noble souls have attained salvation but they have left mark of their teachings forever for human race. Mahaveer Bhagwan is one of those noble souls who has shown us light and path of salvation.        Bhagwan got salvation on full black day ( Kartik Amawasya) of Dipawali in 527 BCE  (approx. 2541 years ago) at Pawapuri (Bihar state-India) He is the last 24th Thirthankar of this period.

Before going to school mother teaches us numbers, alphabets and other small things like how to stand up, how to walk ,how to keep safe distance from fire and other harmful things etc. Her efforts has ever lasting effect on us. Nobody has ever repaid this unique debt of her. The things she taught may be small but remains unmatched.
Similarly looking back to our spiritual development, I can not think we could ever repay the debt of Lord Mahaveer for his teachings. We all owe a huge debt to Him for his main teaching briefs here under which may result in less life cycles for his followers. Let us study it from impact angle for all devotees it can craete more respect for him.

1-His Karma theory made  us to  take care of all of our actions by mind, body and speech. He clarified that each action is material.
2-He established equality of all living creatures to have fair dealing from every one-human, plant animal. It ensured smooth leaving,
3-He taught to control  own organs and minimize needs.
4-He established that God is not shaping human destiny-it is the work of our own Karma builted. So we learnt importance of Karma.

5-He has shown what is 18 sins ( Paap) and 09 good deeds (Punya).
6-He has shown the way to reduce cycles of life and death by correct-knowledge, faith and conduct. He explained "Nirjara".
7-He prescribed 12 Vrata and Restrictions ( Pachkhans ) for simple living. We learnt to control organs and needs while living.
8-He clarified that with out nullifying all Karmas salvation is not possible for any one. It put restrictions on vagabond life style.  
9-His Jinwani through 32 Aagams make it easy how to march on path of salvation. This is lamp of ever lasting knowledge for us.

10-He prescribed how a monk shall live life after quitting domestic life. It brought disciplined life to achieve salvation in practice.
11-He placed high emphasis on Truth and non-violence.
12-He explained nature of Universe, living and non-living units through Kevaldyan. It opened doors of knowledge treasure for us.
What he has given to world is not possible to summarize but the light he spread while leaving for salvation will guide human race

for 21000 uninterrupted years from his Moksha or salvation.
I salute him hundred times for His unique gift. I also express my inability to repay his debt at least in current life. Definitely I aim to reduce his debt by spreading his message of Truth, Non-violence and Live and Let Live among interested masses. See if you can join.

 JAI JINEDRA-------!!!------------- JAI MAHAVEER--------!!!.

DIPAWALI-- MOVING-FROM ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TO REAL LIGHT-------------!!!

Dipawali is the most popular festival of India. The popularity is mainly for next three reasons. First it is celebrated as a tribute to coming back to Ayodhya of Lord Ramachandraji after defeating Ravana. Secondly it is auspicious for Jains as Mahaveerswami got his salvation on Kartik Amawasya. Devotees also celebrate it with Puja of Goddess Laxmi to have her blessings for wealth creation.

Full lights, sweets, crackers, garlands of flowers, lanterns and so on, many things are being used to express joy associated with events. On the other hand Jain also engage themselves in fast, Swadhaya of Utradhyansutra and Pucchisunam and visit to temples and Sthanaks. Utradhyansutra covers 36 chapters told by Bhagwan before Moksha .
Devotees chat Puccchisunam as composed by Sudharmaswami in

praise of Bhagwan Mahaveerswami. 108 Puchhisunam they try to 
complete. we celebrate it with every possible method but in the process we ignore the damages we make to environment and other living creatures. The crackers  has the most negative effect  from the above list. Most of us are aware of it. It causes so many damages.

Air pollution ,noise, disturbance to birds resting on trees at night, catching of fire and so on. Indirectly it amounts to violence of Agnikaay (fire) and Vayukaay (air) creatures. Certainly we shall not celebrate this great day in such way, we shall not follow tradition but

to go for of logical adoption of tradition as suited for modern society.

The mud lights lighting also causes killing of numerous  tiny insects through oil and fire. We can certainly reduce the numbers to a bare minimum one to match our salvation aim. In festival fever we as the
follower of Jainism forgets the basic teaching of the  noble soul who attained most desirable-Nirvana/salvation.

If we wish to celebrate his outstanding achievement, we must vow to keep abstinence from fire and crackers. Bhagwan Mahaveer got the real light of soul. On the other hand with artificial light, we increase the distance of real light from our soul. Let us turn to real light 
In West people enjoy wealth with out asking it from  any Goddess. So friends let us make introspection of our methods of Dipawali celebrations and shall prefer for true inner light.

JAI JINERDA--------!!!------------ JAI MAHAVEER-----------!!!.