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Daslakshan Parv and
Navratra
Eating,
drinking and being merry are normally associated with
festivals but
in Daslakshan Parv and Navratra is the opposite.
During both these festivals penances, vows, fast and
study is one's devotion. If not fasting they refrain from eating Tamsik
food. There are two categories of festivals:
eternal
and non-eternal.
In both these festivities it is the
time to celebrate the natural qualities of the soul.
Just as the soul does not have a beginning or an
end, these festivals do not have a beginning or an end.
It falls two times in a year but is mostly celebrated
once around August / September because at this time,
business being quiet, businessman can take time off
for spiritual pursuit.
Navratra Festival :
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Navratra literally
means '9 nights'. These days are astrologically very
powerful for Spiritual up liftmen.
During these days
and nights, prayers are offered to 'Mother' who is the
Manifestation of the Absolute Energy that pervades the
Universe. As 'Durga' sitting on a Lion, she is a
Manifestation of 'Shakti' or the Primordial Energy. The
Power to breathe, walk, digest etc, comes from Maa Durga.
As Laxmi she is
abundance, not only material, but of Air, Land, Space
etc. Maa Saraswati'
is the 'OM', from where all sound emanates. 'Maa'
is the 'Garbha' (Womb) from where the Universe
manifests.
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A fortnight before
Durga Puja, offerings are made to ancestors also knpws
as " sraddas" . Before one proceeds
on the Spiritual Path, the offerings are probably a form
of gratitude to the ancestors as our fathers are
responsible for our achieving a human body.
The next 'worship'
is towards Mother Nature. On the 1st day of the Puja (mahashakti)
one prays to the abode of 'Mother' with the wood
apple tree.
On the 2nd day of
the puja, navaptrika (nine leaves) are offered.
The word 'Garba'
stems from 'Garbha' and symbolizes the 'Dance of
Creation'
The first 3 days of 'Navratra' are dedicated
to 'Ma Kali' to annihilate the enemies within
one self.
The next 3 days are
dedicated to 'Ma Laxmi' and the last 3 days are
dedicated to Ma Saraswati.
On the 10th day a
Bonfire is lit to burn the Self arrogating Ego. Whether
we pray to Ma or not, she thinks of us all the time. She
holds us in our arms when dejected, gives us various
gifts from time to time, but admonishes us when we cross
our line.
The Ramadan falls around the same
time as Navratra (2007)
During the month of Ramadan the
first 10 days are dedicated to the mercy of Allah.
The next 10 days
spotlight on forgiveness from Allah and the last 10 days
on liberation from Hell Fire.
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Daslakshan parv
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It is the digamber sect
who practices these festive days.
Although the Swtember
jain sect also follows these rituals but they call it "
Paryusan parv " ( see the next article )
These ten days the jains Nischay
bhav by performing daily puja etc.
Secondly it is to observe Nishay
Bhav to conduct no wrongfull act.
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The details by days are :
1. Forgiveness :
a) We forgive those who have wronged us and seek forgiveness
from those we have wronged. Forgiveness is sought not just from
human colleagues, but from all living beings ranging from one
sensed to five sensed. If we do not forgive or seek forgiveness
but instead harbor resentment, we bring misery and unhappiness
on ourselves and in the process seeking forgiveness oils the
wheel of life allowing us to live in harmony with our fellow
beings. It also attracts punya karma.
b) Forgiveness here is directed to oneself. The soul, in a state
of mistaken identity or false belief, assumes that it consists
of the body, the karmas and the emotions-likes, dislikes, anger,
pride etc. As a result of this incorrect belief it inflicts pain
upon itself and is thus the cause of its own misery. Nishchay
Kshama Dharma teaches the soul to correctly identify itself by
encouraging it to contemplate in its true nature and hence
achieve the state of correct belief or Samyam Darshan. It is
only by achieving Samyak Darshan the the soul ceases to inflict
pain on itself and attains supreme happiness.
2. Modesty / Humility :
a) Wealth, good looks, reputable family or intelligence often
lead to pride. Pride means to believe one to be superior to
others and to look down on others. By being proud you are
measuring your worth by temporary material objects. These
objects will either leave you or you will be forced to leave
them when you die. These eventualities will cause you
unhappiness as a result of the "dent" caused to your soft-worth.
Being humble will prevent this. Pride also leads to the influx
of the bad deed or paap karmas.
b) All souls are equal, none being superior or inferior to
another. In other words of Srimad Rajchandra: "Sarva JeevChe
Sidh Su, Je Samje Te Thai - All the souls are akin to the Sidh;
those who understand the principle will achieve that state" The
Nischay view encourages you to understand your true nature.?All
souls have the potential to be liberated souls (Sidh Bhagwan).
The only difference between the liberated souls and those in
bondage is that the former have attained liberation as a result
of their effort. With effort, even the latter can achieve
liberation.
3. Straightfordness :
a) The action of a deceitful person
is to think one thing, speak something else and do something
entirely different. There is no harmony in his thought, speech
and actions. Such a person loses credibility very quickly and
lives in constant anxiety and fear of his deception being
exposed. Being straight-forward or honest oil the wheel of life.
You will be seen to be reliable and trustworthy. Deceitful
actions leads to the influx of paap karmas.
b) Delusion about one's identity is
the root cause of unhappiness. Be straightforward to yourself
and recognize your true nature. The soul is made up of countless
qualities like knowledge achieve omniscience (Kewal Gnan) and
reach a state of supreme bliss. Again, the body, the karmas, the
thoughts and all the emotions are separate from the true nature
of the soul. Only by practicing Nishchay Arjav Dharma will one
taste the true happiness that comes from within.
Before we discuss the ten Dharmas, it
is important to understand two common viewpoints found in our
scriptures. The Vyavachar view, in crude terms, helps you to
live more easily and peacefully with the outside world. It also
builds up your reserve of good deeds (punya karmas). The
nishchay view helps to enhance enhance and blossom the soul's
natural qualities. In Jainism the Vyavhar view is always
considered the "by the by". The Nishchay view is considered to
be most important as it leads to contemplation and understanding
of the true nature of the soul with the aim of its population,
the ultimate goal of practicing Paryushan. Merely practicing the
Vyavahar Dharmas may bind punaya karmas, leading to material
gain in this life and the next.
The Dharmas are well prefixed by the word "Uttam" (Supreme) to
signify that they are practiced at the highest level by the Jain
monks. The householder practices them to a lesser extent. It
last over a period of ten days, each day being a) stands for the
Vyavahar view and b) for the NIshchay view.
4.
Contentment:
a) Be
content with the material gains that you have accomplished thus
far. Contrary to popular belief, striving for greater material
wealth and pleasure will not lead to happiness. Desire for more
is a sign that we do not have all that we want. Reducing this
desire and being content with what we have leads to
satisfaction. Accumulating material objects merely fuels the
fire of desire.
b)
Contentment or happiness, derived from material objects, is only
perceived to be so by a soul in a state of false belief. The
fact is that material objects do not have a quality of happiness
and therefore happiness cannot be obtained from them! The
perception of "enjoying" material object is indeed only that -a
perception! This perception rewards the soul with only misery
and nothing else. Real happiness comes from within, as it is the
soul that possesses the quality of happiness.
5. Truth :
a) If
talking is not required, then do not talk. If it is required?
then only use the minimum of words, and all must be absolutely
true. Talking disturbs the stillness of the mind. Consider the
person who lies and lives in fear of being exposed. To support
one lie he has to utter a hundred more. He becomes caught up in
a tangled web of lies and is seen as untrustworthy and
unreliable. Lying leads to an influx of paap karma.
b)
Satya comes from the word sat, which means existence. Existence
is a quality of the soul. Recognizing the soul's true nature as
it really exist's? and taking shelter in the soul is practicing
Nischay Satya Dharma.
6. Self - Restraints :
a) i)
Restraining from injury to life - Jains go to great lengths,
compared to other world religions, to protect life. This
encompasses all living beings, from one-sensed onwards. The
purpose of not eating root vegetables is that they contain
countless one-sensed onwards. The purpose of not eating root
vegetables is that they contain countless one-sensed being
termed "nigod". During Paryushan the Jain also do not eat green
vegetables to reduce harm to the lower sensed beings. ii) Self
restraint from desires or passions - These lead to pain and are
therefore to be avoided.
b) i)
Restraining injury to the self - This has been elaborated upon
in Nishchay Kshma Dharma.ii) Self restraint from desires or
passions - Emotions, e.g. likes, dislikes or anger leads to
misery and need to be eradicated. They are not part of the true
nature of the soul and only arise when the soul is in a state of
false belief. The only method to free oneself from these is to
contemplate on the true nature of the soul and in the process
commence the journey to liberation or? moksha.
7. Penance :
a) This does not only mean fasting
but also includes a reduce diet, restriction of certain types of
foods, avoiding tasty foods, etc. The purpose of penance is to
keep desires and passions in control. Over-indulgence inevitable
leads to misery. Penance leads to an influx of punya karmas.
b) Meditation prevents the rise of
desires and passions in the soul. In a deep state of meditation
the desire to intake food does not arise. Our first Tirthankara,
Adinath Bhagwan was in such a meditative state for six months,
during which he observed Nischay Uttam Tap. The only food he
consumed during these six months was the happiness from within.
8. Renunciation :
a)
Contrary to popular belief, renouncing worldly possessions leads
to a life of contentment and assists in keeping desires in
check. Controlling desires lead to an influx of punya karma.
Renunciation is done at the highest level by our monks who
renounce not only the household but also their clothes. A
person's strength is measured not by the amount of wealth he
accumulates but by the amount of wealth he renounces. By this
measure our? monks are the richest.
b)
Renouncing the emotions, the root cause of misery, is Nischay
Uttam Tyag, which is only possible by contemplating on the true
nature of the soul.
9. Non-attachment :
a)
This assists us in detaching from external possessions.
Historically ten possession are listed in our scriptures: "land,
house, silver, gold, wealth, grain, female servants, male
servants, garments and utensils" Remaining unattached from these
helps control our desires and leads to an influx of punya
karmas.
b)
This assists us in being unattached from our internal
attachments: false belief, anger pride, deceit, greed, laughter,
liking, disliking, lamentation, fear, disgust, male sexual
desire, female sexual desire and hybrid sexual desire. Ridding
the soul of these leads to its purification.
10. Supreme Celibacy :
a)
This means not only refraining from sexual intercourse but also
includes all pleasures associated with the sense of touch, e.g.
a cool breeze on a hot summers day or using a cushion for a hard
surface. Again this dharma is practiced to keep our desires in
check. The monks practice this to the highest degree with all
their body, speech and mind. The householder refrains from
sexual intercourse with anyone except his or her spouse.
b)
Brahmacharya is derived from the word Brahma - soul and charya
to dwell. Nischay Brahmacharya means to dwell in your soul. Only
by residing in the soul. Only by residing in the soul are you
the master of the Universe. Residing outside your soul makes you
a slave to desires.
Kshama Vani Parva :
This is celebrated on the day following the day Das Lakshan
Parva and is also celebrated three times a year. With proper
practice of Das Lakshan Parva our hearts should be overflowing
with forgiveness and hence the celebration of this festival on
the following day.
"
Jainism is not merely a
religion but a way to live life "
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