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| (Mahavira) |
“Pari” plus “upshamana” – “upshamana” meaning “to suppress” - and combined with “Pari” meaning “to suppress our passions.”
In order to abide by these meanings, Jainism's Paryushan is traditionally honored with spiritual practices rather than with worldly festivities. During the eight days of Paryushan Parva, laity engage in “penance, Jap (recitation of Mantra) prayer, worship and friendship” to the point of what seems like “temporary monasticism.” On the final day, Samvastsari Pratikramen, “the annual confession” takes place. This confession mainly centers
upon forgiveness of all by all.
According to jainuniversity.org, this “pratikramana” confession entails repenting for “the mistake that has been committed and to refrain from it, as also to remain alert that no new mistakes are committed.” Pratikramen has therefore been compared to a mirror in which “we see our faults and wrongdoings,” then ask “forgiveness for all wrongful acts, and take vows to minimize such acts.”
Pratikramen is meant to be an all-inclusive experience, embracing not only humans, but all sentient beings. This is reflected within the following Iriyavahi Sutra excerpt: I desire to free myself from all my sins. I may have pained living beings while walking on the road. While coming or going, I may have crushed living beings, seeds, plants, dew, anthills, spider webs, live water, or live earth… may all such sins be dissolved.
Resources
http://www.ejainism.com/paryushan.html
http://www.jainuniversity.org/PDFs/Pratikraman.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavir
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
Copyright September 2, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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