Translation and explanation of Pratikramana Stotras in English By Rati Dodhia [Email address: rdodhia #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
Preface
Jaina scriptures have prescribed six necessary duties for a Jaina householder, which are: sämäyika, chaturvimashati stava, vandanaka, Pratikramana, käyotsarga and pratyäkhyäna. Pratikramana is the central theme of these necessary duties as all the other five are included in it.
Each year, about half a million people make a pilgrimage to 1,500 temples of the Jain religion, perched high on a hill overlooking the town of Palitana in Gujarat, western India.
Jaina scriptures have prescribed six necessary duties for a Jaina householder, which are: sämäyika, chaturvimashati stava,vandanaka, Pratikramana, käyotsarga and pratyäkhyäna.
Pratikramana is the central theme of these necessary duties as all the other five are included in it. It has been a tradition for Swetamber Jains all over the world to do Pratikramana several times a year. The most important being the Samvantsari Pratikramana on the last day of Paryushana when a lay person confesses and atones for the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly during the past year. However, as the sutras and the prayers which are recited during the Pratikramana are mostly in Sanskrit and Prakrit (Ardhmaghdhi), most devotees do not understand the exact meaning behind the sutras and prayers.
Excellent Gujarati and Hindi texts are available on this subject but I am not aware of any works in simple English. I must confess that I am not a scholar of Jain Religion and this is not a literary translation. It is my interpretation of the sutras and prayers after going through various texts on this subject written by scholars and very able writers. My purpose of writing this book is to give a simplified unconventional English translation to make it easy for an average reader to understand the meaning of the Pratikramana stotras.
This book “Exposition of Pratikramana Stotras” includes the original verses in Gujarati, with transliteration in English followed by as accurate as possible meaning and as clear as possible commentary of the verses. This book will be very helpful to the people who are familiar with the Pratikramana stotras but do not understand the original meanings as they are not well versed in Indian dialects. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) arranged a grand Pratishtha Mahotsav from September 26 through October 6, 2008 to commemorate opening of a new Religious Complex in the city of Buena Park. Several Oshwal families living in the Los Angeles area actively participated in the celebration. Nina Aashit Shah of Carlsbad, Reena and Milan Shah of Aliso Viejo, Seema and Sujit Shah of Aliso Viejo, and Shilpa and Nitin Shah of Temple City were part of a large group of volunteers who helped in several activities to make this a memorable occasion.. Sajan, Riya and Anika (children of Seema and Sujit Shah) and Shivani (daughter of Shilpa and Nitin Shah) took part in cultural programs which were very entertaining. Riya had also the honor of lighting a Diva to commemorate the beginning of Pratishtha Mahotsav. Sushilaben Girishbhai Shah of Yorba Linda wrote, directed and produced an enlightening one act play titled “Jambu Swami’s Vairagya”. Her commentary and acting by members of the Swadhya Group including Girishbhai and their two sons – Bickey and Moulick, was truly commendable.
OEWA has come a long way since it first started in 1996 at Croydon, London. Not only has it provided food and shelter to the elderly Oshwals, but is also offering support for any health issues, entertainment, planning trips and advice for housing accommodation, disability, etc. Starting with only six members the membership has increased leaps and bounds. Overcoming many hurdles like lack of place, money, and volunteers ,the OEWA has come a long way. This is due to selfless efforts like many social workers such as Satishbhai Shah. For a more detailed article published in the London-based “Gujarat Samachar”, see the link below:
It was the middle of last year that I first heard about a place in Tanzania called Musoma. This enchanting town is the capital of the Mara region, and sits on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria.
Jainadarsh.com is a totally free matrimonial website simple to use and high on features.
Apart form being totally free, what sets it apart is the emphasis on registration of boys and girls with neat and clean habits thereby ensuring that the registrants are at least Jains by their habits. A signed declaration to this effect automatically generated with the details of the applicant immediately upon entering data is insisted upon before the registrant is validated and his /her details are accessible on the site. Read the rest of this entry »
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