Daily Routine of the Jaina Saint (Dina-caryā)
The restrained saint should observe the prescribed daily observances67 like the self-study etc. for the accomplishment of equanimity which is the main cause of self-realisation.
The saint should wake-up after two Ghatis (~ 48 minutes) have passed after midnight. He should commence later-night self-study by declaration :
then he should recite the small reverence hymn of the scriptures after repeating the Ṇamokāra Mantra nine times.68 He should, then, declare through the words :
It means, “I am undertaking the detachmental relaxation for my reverence to the head of the Saints”.
He should, then, repeat Ṇamokara Mantra nine times and recite the small hymn of
Reverence to the Acaryas (Laghu Acārya bhakti). He should, later, offer bowings to the sacred text with reverence and start the studies. This later-night studies should be completed two Ghatis (48 minutes) prior to sunrise followed by detachmental relaxation related with the small reverence hymn of the Scriptures after the declaration :
Thus, there will be three detachmental relaxations in the later-night studies from the beginning to the end. Afterwards, he should have nightly penitential retreat recital to rectify the transgressions during night. This penitential retreat has four reverence hymn recitals of:
- (1)the liberated soul (Siddhabhakti),
- (2) the process of penitential retreat itself (Pratikramaṇa bhakti),
- (3) Tord Mahāvīra (Vīrabhakti) and
- (4) twenty-four Tīrthankaras (Caturvinṡati Tīrthankara bhakti).69
After the penitential retreat, one should absolve himself from the night. In other words, whatever resolve for the night was made after the evening penitential retreat, should be renounced. The process is as follows one should promise, thus,
Afterwards, one should have nine times incantational repetition (Japa) of Ṇamokāra Mantra and, then, recite the short devotional hymn to the sages starting from ‘Prāvṛtkāle’ etc. (i.e. Taghu Yogibhakti) in the morning.
It means that “I conclude my vow of residing in the night here”. One should, then, venerate the saint-teacher through the recital of short ‘devotion to saints’ (Taghu Acāryabhakti).
Afterwards, one should offer Tord veneration for two Ghatis (48 minutes) beginning from sunrise. This involves recital of devotion to Jaina idols (Caityas) and five Supreme souls after undertaking the equanimity practice.
The Devotional recital of Samādhibhakti is performed in the end. Afterwards, one should meditate on the soul in the remaining time. One should, then, perform morning Acārya-Vandana with reciting short Siddhabhakti and Acāryabhakti.
After the elapse of two Ghatis after sunrise, one should resolve for morning scriptural studies and undertake it until two Ghatis before the noon-time.
The noon Tord veneration (Devavandanā) should be done as per the earlier method two Ghatis before the noon. One should recite the short hymn of Ṡmtabhakti and Acāryabhakti and offer veneration to the Acāryas.
Afterwards, one should spend the remaining time in meditation, devotional recital and mantra repetition if one has undertaken fast. Otherwise, one should go for taking food with proper permission from the Acārya, if one has to go for seeking food.70 At present, saints perform noon Lord veneration after the process of food-taking.
After proper processing of ‘invitation’ etc. during the food-taking process, one should be offered nine-fold devotion (Navadhābhakti) and then, begin taking foods after completing the renunciation taken after the foods of yesterday by reciting .
“I undertake physical relaxation posture for reciting devotional hymn to the liberated ones (Siddhabhakti) for the conclusion of earlier renunciation”.
This should be followed by incantational repetition nine times and recitation of short devotional hymn of Siddhabhakti. After taking foods, one should undertake renunciation immediately by reciting ‘short devotional hymn of Siddhabhakti preceded by nine-times Mantra repetition and resolve “I undertake physical relaxation posture for devotion to the liberated ones in the process of resolving for renunciation”
and should renounce the foods upto the time of taking the foods next day. Afterwards, one should go to the saint teacher (Acārya), recite short devotional hymn of Siddhabhakti & Yogibhakti and accept renunciation from him. Then, he should venerate the Acārya by short Acāryabhakti and undertake penitential retreat for the faults during the process of food-taking and seeking.
Afterwards, one should undertake the resolve of starting ‘afternoon studies’ and complete it two Ghatis before the sun-set.
Afterwards, one should recite daily penitential retreat (Daivasika Pratikramaṇa) and purify himself from the defects earned during the day, and, then, undertake the resolve for the night, “I undertake physical relaxation posture for the devotional hymn of the sages in the process of nightly resolve”
followed by the resolve “I will reside in this place tonight”.
After it, he should perform evening Acārya Vandana by reciting short Siddhabhakti, Ṡrutabhakti and Acāryabhakti, then he should perform the prescribed evening Lord-Veneration (Devavandanā).
The pre-night studies should be commenced in the prescribed way two Ghatis after the sun-set. It should be concluded two Ghatis earlier than the midnight. Afterwards, the saint should sleep for four Ghatis to remove the tiresome-ness due to the daily labour.71
This is the daily routine of the saints. Its details should be studied from the texts like ‘Anagāra Dharmāmṛta, Mūlācāra, Acārasāra and others. This daily routine of saints consists of the following 28 detachmental relaxations (Kāyotsargas): 12 for studies, 6 for veneration of Lord (Sāmāyika) thrice a day (@2/ veneration), 8 for penitential retreat twice a day @ 4/ process, and 2 for devotional recital of Yogibhakti.
Special or Causal Activities
The saints should recite Siddha, Caitya, ṡruta, Pancaguru and Ṡānti bhaktis in Lord veneration on the fourteenth day of the fortnight (Caturdaṡī). Alternatively, they should recite only three reverential devotional hymns i.e. Caitya, Ṡruta and Pancaguru bhaktis.
On the eighth day of the fortnight (Aṣtamī), the saint should recite reverential devotional hymns of Siddha, Ṡruta and Cāritrabhaktis followed by introspective confession I I Then, he should conclude with reciting Ṡāntibhakti & Sāmādhibhakti.
During the eight-day festival (Aṣtānhikā, the eternal 8-day festival, which comes 3 times a year), the saint should have the pre-mid-noon studies and afterwards, the saint group should recite the reverential devotional hymns of Siddha, Nandīṡvara, Pancaguru & Ṡānti bhaktis. The similar activities should be performed on holy days like Ṡruta-pancamī (the bright fifth day of Jyeṣtha) etc. These activities should be learnt from the related texts.
Activity of Varsāyoga or Cāturmāsa
On the bright thirteenth day of Aṣādha (June-July), the saints should recite the Mangalagocara Madhyanha Vanadanā before taking food. After Ahāra, the saint accepts fast for caturdaṡī with reciting long Siddhabhakti & Yogibhakti, then he recites long Acāryabhakti & Ṡāntibhakti.
Afterwards, the saints should commence their activity of Varsāyoga after performing the prescribed activities of recital of reverential devotional hymns of the Siddhabhakti, Yogibhakti, Caityabhakti and others in the early night of the bright fourteenth day of Aṣādha following the procedure of commencement of the activity of Varṣay oga as per the text of Kriya- kalāpa (Municaryā).
The activity of Varṣāyoga is concluded on the last end of the night of the black fourteenth day of Kārtika (Oct. – Nov.) month. The saint should recite reverential devotional hymns followed by nightly penitential retreat (Rātrika Pratikramaṇa). This should be followed by Vīr Nirvāṇa Kriyā which includes devotional hymn recitals of the Siddha, Nirvāṇa, Pancaguru and Ṡāntibhaktis. In the end, they should recite the hymn for Tord veneration.
The prescribed veneration process is followed during the sacred journey of places related with Kalyāṇaka (auspicious welfare-earning events) of the Tīrthankaras or related with the holy death of saints and head-saints. This involves recital of prescribed devotional hymns. This is the description of casual activities of the saints.
Thus, the saints engage themselves in the daily or casual routine as per their capacity leading to their karmic destruction, purification of conduct and performance of vows like ‘Sinha- niṣkrīdita’ (An austerity of gradually increasing and decreasing fasting like the sporting of lions) etc.
By Following these practices and vows, the saints gradually shred off their karmas and earn excellent sacredness leading to sufficient reduction in their wordly life. In other words, they may attain liberation in 3-4 future births.
The saints observe ten duties of religion (Daṡa Dharmas). They contemplate over the sixteen factors (Ṣodaṡa-kāraṇa-Bhāvanās) leading to Tīrthankara-ship and earn the bonding of the karmic sub-species of Tīrthankara-ship and become capable of bestowing beneficiation to all the liberatable living beings of the world.
Ten Duties (or religions) of the Saints
The saints, engaged in carefulnesses, observe ten duties of religion (dharma) to retain their vigilance or remove their lethargy.
The ten religious duties are named as below :
- (1)Supreme Forgiveness / Forbearance (Uttama Kṣamā)
- (2)Supreme Modesty / Pridelessness (Uttama Mārdava)
- (3)Supreme Straight-forwardness (Uttama Arjava)
- (4)Supreme Purity or Non-greediness (Uttama Ṡauca)
- (5)Supreme Truth (Uttama Satya)
- (6)Supreme Restraint (Uttama Sanyama)
- (7)Supreme Austerity (Uttama Tapa)
- (8)Supreme Renunciation (Uttama Tyāga)
- (9)Supreme Non-attachment (Uttama Akincanya)
- (10)Supreme Celibacy (Uttama Brahmacarya)
(1)Supreme Forgiveness : It is the quality of not feeling anger or blemish in mind on being abused, joked or ridiculed, disregarded or beaten etc. by the wicked persons while on going for taking food for body-upkeep.
(2)Supreme Modesty: It is the quality of not to behave haughtily on acount of eight-fold prides of caste etc.
(3)Supreme Straight-forwardness : It is the quality of not behaving with physical, vocal and mental crookedness. It means to be honest.
(4)Supreme Purity or Nongreediness : It is the quality of renouncing the greediness totally.
(5)Supreme Truth : It is the quality of speaking chaste with the saints, noble persons and others.
(6)Supreme Restraint: It is the quality of restraining oneself from injury to the sentients and desisting from sensual objects.
(7)Supreme Austerity : It is the quality of undertaking twelve kinds of austerity to promote destruction ofkarmas.
(8)Supreme Renunciation : It is the quality of bestowing or giving knowledge (and books) etc. to saints etc. appropriate for observing restraint.
(9)Supreme Non-attachment: It is the quality of giving up the care of body and thoughts like ‘this is mine.’
(10)Supreme Celibacy : It is the quality of renunciation of womenal pleasures and remembering or listening to sexual pleasure. Alternatively, it is also a quality of residing in the hermitage to promote renunciation of self-willed activities.
The practice of these ten religious virtues are stated to lead to the stoppage of karmic influx.
Reflections on Sixteen Factors (Solah Kārana Bhāvanās)
(1)Purity of Faith (Darṡana Viṡuddhi) : It is to accept the pure right faith or insight devoid of twenty five defects (3 idiocies + 6 non-abodes (anāyatanas) + 8 prides + 8 defects of right faith).
(2)Reverence (Vinaya-Sampannatā): It is the practice of offering proper homage to real God, scripture and preceptor along with Ratnatraya (of right faith, knowledge and conduct).
(3)Non-transgressional Observance of Primary and Supplementary Vows (Sila- vrateṣu-anaticāra) : It is the faultless observance of vows and a faultless subdual of the passions.
(4)Incessant Pursuit of Knowledge (Abhikṣṇa – Jnānopayoga): It is to engage oneself ceaselessly in the cultivation of the knowledge of soul and other reals and realities.
(5)Apprehension of the Worldly Miseries (Samvega) : It is the affection towards religion and its effects and feeling of perpetual fear of transmigration.
(6)Practicing donations as per Capacity (Saktitah Tyāga) : It is to offer foods, medicines, security and scriptures to the saints and the needy ones according to ones capacity.
(7)Practicing Austerity as per Capacity (Saktitah Tapa): It is the pracitce of external and internal austerities as per one’s capacity without concealing it.
(8)Removal of Obstacles Threatening Equanimity or Trance (Sādhu-Samādhi): It is the removal of inflictions or obstacles which threaten the practices of observance of vows, austerity or meditation of saints. It may also be defined as a heroic death while in meditation.
(9)Offer of Selfless Service (Vaiyāvṛtya karaṇa): This is to offer selfless service in various ways for the saints and avowed persons.
(10)Devotion to the Enlightened Ones (Arhad-bhakti): This means the worship and recital of the devotional hymns in honour of the Enlightened ones (Arahantas).
(11)Devotion to the Head-Saints (Acārya bhakti): This means the worship and recital of the devotional hymns in honour of the Acāryas.
(12)Devotion to the Preceptors (Bahu-ṡruta-bhakti) : This means the worship and recital of the devotional hymns in honour of the preceptors.
(13)Devotion to the Sacred Scriptures (Pravacana Bhakti): This means the worship and recital of the devotional hymns in honour of the sacred scriptures containing the words of the Jinas.
(14)Non-avoidable Practices of Six Essential Duties (Avaṡyaka – aparihāṇī): This means the practice of six essential duties carefully (by saints or votaries) without any exception at proper times and every day.
(15)Glorification of Jina Path (Mārga-prabhāvanā): This means to propagate, promote and magnify the Jina religious path or Jainism.
(16)Affection towards Co-religionists (Pravacana-vātsalatā): This means to express love and affection for one’s co-religionist brethren like the cow and her calf.
Out of these sixteen causes, the first one – purity of right faith is very essential. The bondage of Tīrthankaraship can be earned even with two or three or all causes alongwith the cause of the purity of faith.