One of India's oldest religions, Jainism, puts Nonviolence above all else.
Rituals play an everyday part in Jainism. It can be separated broadly into 2 parts: Karyn (obligations that are followed) and Kriya (worship that is performed).
In Jainism, a Sravaka (Householder) has 6 essential Duties, called Avashyaka. These are:
Dāna is of 4 kinds. They are:
These tasks became important parts of a Jain householder. Others include scattering grain for the birds in the morning and purifying or boiling water for the coming few hours. These daily gestures of kindness and nonviolence have become routine. Pratikraman is another ritual that Jains do either in the morning to make up for violence done during the night or in the evening to apologize for the violence done during the day.
A Jain lay person has to do 11 things every year and some things only once in their life. They can do these things alone or with a group. Shravak Pragyapti recommended it. These are:
There are also rules that Jains have to follow and different ways to worship idols. At least once in a lifetime, you have to do these things. Here are they:
Jainism has a very vibrant ritual and festival life. And the rituals aren't just meaningless performances; rather, they serve both participants and viewers by having a deep significance. For many people who don't understand the more complicated parts of religious philosophy, the rituals give them a way to show their love for the Tirthankara.
For many Jains, the best way to start the day is to worship in front of the Jina Idols, bow to them, and light a lamp in front of them. More complicated ways of worship, called Puja, are done every day in the temple. The worshiper says "Namo Jinanam," which means "I bow to the Jina," as enters the temple. The person then says "Nisihi" 3 times (to relinquish thoughts about worldly affairs). The simpler surroundings of the household shrine can also work.
Puja, or worship, can take a variety of forms.
The Siddhachakra, a Lotus-Shaped Disc Bearing Images of the Arhat, the Liberated Soul, the Religious Teacher, the Religious Leader, and the Monk (the 5 Praiseworthy Beings), as well as the 4 qualities - Perception, Knowledge, Conduct, and Seriousness to Uplift the Soul, is the focus of a Prayer Ritual.
Some Jainist sects do not support the worship of the Jina Statue. They adhere to Silent Prayer and Meditation.
Jain Custom is an important part of the Jain religion. These traditions include different rituals that happen before a baby is born after a person dies & many more. People learn values from these customs. The following are some of the things that Jains do:
The Jains have a regular practice of fasting, which they do during special times, festivals, and holy days. If a Jain thinks he or she has done something wrong, he or she can fast at any time. Jains believe that fasting helps them stay self-disciplined. In Jainism, there are many different ways to fast. The Sallekhana is an example of a fasting ritual. It involves fasting until death or until the body starts to get in the way of spiritual progress. Here are some others:
It refers to the rituals, actions, or deeds that happen after a child is born. Rituals like these are done to teach a new baby about his or her culture. Some rituals are also done while the baby is still in the mother's womb. After the baby is born, many more rituals are done.
The marriage ceremony is very important to the Jains, and it is run by a number of traditional rules. Most of the time, only Jain priests perform Jain marriages. Before the wedding, pujas are held in the homes of both the bride and the groom. On the day of the wedding, the groom goes to the bride's house, where the bride's brother meets him. The Pandit starts the puja when the bride comes to the Mandapa. During the wedding, there are different kinds of ceremonies.
The dead are burned by Jains. Before the dead are burned, they go through some important rituals. After cleaning the body, it is put in a bier and covered with a kafan. It is taken to a place where people are burned. The older son does the last things. He walks around the funeral pyre and sprinkles water all over the body. He finally starts the fire and says the Namokar Mantra. After these ceremonies, the remains are put in a hole.
Digambara Monks drink water from Gourds and clean the ground where they walk with a Peacock Feather Duster to prevent harming any living things. They use their Cupped Palms as an Alms Bowl as they beg for their one meal of the day.
Sadhus or Sadhvis of the Jain Religion don't eat or drink anything after Sunset or before Sunrise. They wait 48 minutes after sunrise to even drink water that has been boiled. Between sundown and sunrise, they never eat or drink anything in any situation.
Jain Sadhus/Sadhvis don't cook, get it prepared, or eat prepared food. They go to Jains or Vegetarians' Homes and Get Meals. This is Gochari. Jain Monks and Nuns don't take all the food from one dwelling, just like cows graze the top of the grass as they go from place to place. It's collected from homes. Jain Sadhus/Sadhvis only take a little food from a residence so the family doesn't have to cook again. They do not desire to be part of any violence, such as Fire, Vegetable Chopping, Water Consumption, etc. They don't get food outside, but inside where it's cooked or preserved. So they know that receiving food won't make the hosts cook again. They accept vow-allowed food.
They always stroll Barefoot. Whatever the distance, they always walk. They don't travel by Cart, Car, Boat, Ship, or Plane. Whether it's Cold or Hot, Stony or Thorny, or Burning Sand or Road, they never wear Shoes. Lifelong barefooters. Without shoes, they won't crush bugs or insects while walking. They preach Dharma and give Spiritual Guidance while traveling. They only stay a few days in one place during the four-month rainy season. Nighttime is off-limits for Sadhus and Sadhvis. So, Upashray or Paushadh Shala is the place for their stay. They may stay in places other than Upashray if they're suitable for their disciplined life and don't disrupt the code of conduct. They don't stay anywhere permanently to avoid developing attachments to material things and people.
After attaining the Diksha (initiation), the Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis do not cut their hair or shave their heads; they also do not have these things done by a barber. But twice a year, or at least once a year around Paryushan, they either pluck their hair themselves or get it plucked by someone else. The name for this is Kesh Lochan or Loch. They can fulfill their needs independently in this way. It is also regarded as a form of asceticism where the pain of hair plucking is tolerated calmly.
They always wear white clothing that isn't sewn. Some Jain Sadhus are naked. Those who wear garments carry a Muhapati, a Square or Rectangular Piece of fabric, in their palm or over their mouth. They also use Ogho or Rajoharan (a woolen broom) to remove insects when sitting or strolling. Naked Sadhus hold Morpichhi and Kamandal. These things differentiate them. This practice varies among Jains, but the basic premise is to restrict demands.
Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis give their blessings to everyone by saying Dharm Labh (May You Attain Spiritual Prosperity). They bless everyone the same way, no matter what sex, age, caste, wealth, poverty, religion, or high or low social status they have. Some people had Vakshep, Sandal Dust, put on their heads. Monks & Nuns Show Everyone How to Live a Healthy, Righteous, and Disciplined Life Through Discussions, Discourses, Seminars, & Camps. This helps people grow spiritually. Sadhus and Sadhvis spend their whole lives trying to help their souls. All of the things they do in life have only one Goal: to purify themselves so they can find themselves. To reach this goal, they do the Pratikraman every day and do other penances, in addition to following the rules that have been set.
