Dashlakshan Dharm Puja - Book Summary

This document, "Dashlakshan Dharm Puja," appears to be a Jain devotional text containing prayers and rituals associated with key Jain virtues and concepts. Here's a comprehensive summary based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose:

The book serves as a guide for performing Pujas (worship rituals) dedicated to important aspects of Jainism. It includes prayers for the ten supreme virtues (Dashlakshan Dharma), the sixteen virtues that lead to becoming a Tirthankara (Solahkarana Bhavana), important sacred sites (Panchameru and Nandishwar Dwipa), the Three Jewels of Jainism (Ratnatraya), and the occasion of Kshama Vani (forgiveness).

Key Sections and Their Content:

Das-Lakshan Dharma Maha-Parva (Pages 1-17):
- Introduction (Page 1): Introduces the "Das-Lakshan Dharma Maha-Parva" (Great Festival of Ten Virtues). It lists the ten supreme virtues:
  1. Uttam Kshama (Supreme Forgiveness)
  2. Uttam Mardav (Supreme Humility/Tenderness)
  3. Uttam Arjava (Supreme Honesty/Straightforwardness)
  4. Uttam Shauch (Supreme Contentment/Purity)
  5. Uttam Satya (Supreme Truthfulness)
  6. Uttam Sanyam (Supreme Self-Restraint)
  7. Uttam Tap (Supreme Austerity/Penance)
  8. Uttam Tyag (Supreme Renunciation)
  9. Uttam Akinchan (Supreme Non-Attachment/Possessionlessness)
  10. Uttam Brahmacharya (Supreme Chastity/Celibacy)
- Table of Contents (Page 2): Lists "Dashalakshan Dharma Puja" as the first item, followed by other Pujas.
- Meaning of the Virtues (Pages 3-4): Provides detailed explanations for each of the ten virtues, emphasizing their practice and benefits. For example, Kshama is about wholehearted tolerance and shunning anger, while Sanyam involves defending all living beings and abstaining from sensory pleasures. Brahmacharya is linked to discarding carnal desires and advocating against vulgar fashions.
- Puja Rituals (Pages 5-17): This is the core of the Dashlakshan section. It outlines the procedure for performing a Puja for these ten virtues.
  - It begins with invocation (Avahan), establishment (Sthapan), and integration (Sannidhikaran) of the virtues.
  - The following pages detail the offering of various substances (water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, incense, lamp, food, fruit) with specific mantras and intentions (e.g., offering water to destroy birth, old age, and death; offering sandalwood to destroy worldly suffering).
  - Each of the ten virtues is then individually addressed with verses and offerings (Arghya), explaining their significance and the consequences of their practice or neglect. The verses often use illustrative stories and metaphors to convey the message.
  - The section concludes with a "Jayamala" (garland of victory) summarizing the benefits of cultivating these virtues, leading to liberation.
Solahkarana-Bhavana Puja (Pages 18-35):
- Introduction (Page 18): This section focuses on the "Solahkarana Bhavana" (Sixteen Virtues that lead to Tirthankara status). It mentions that these virtues were instrumental in the previous births of Tirthankaras.
- Invocation and Offerings (Pages 18-22): Similar to the Dashlakshan Puja, it begins with invocation and then details the offerings of water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, incense, lamp, food, and fruit to these sixteen virtues.
- Individual Bhavana Pujas (Pages 22-31): Each of the sixteen virtues is then individually honored with Arghya offerings and verses. The virtues include:
  - Darshan Vishuddhi (Purity of Right Faith)
  - Vinaya Sampannata (Fullness of Humility/Respect)
  - Shilavrate Vanatichara (Non-transgression of Vows)
  - Abhiksna Jnanopayoga (Constant Application of Knowledge)
  - Samvega (Enthusiasm/Urgency for Liberation)
  - Shaktitastyaga (Renunciation according to capacity)
  - Shaktitastapa (Austerity according to capacity)
  - Sadhu Samadhi (Mental composure of ascetics)
  - Vaiyavrutya Karana (Service to ascetics)
  - Arhad Bhakti (Devotion to Arhats)
  - Acharya Bhakti (Devotion to Acharyas)
  - Bahushrut Bhakti (Devotion to learned monks)
  - Pravachana Bhakti (Devotion to the teachings)
  - Avashyakaparihani (Non-neglect of essential duties)
  - Margaprabhavana (Propagation of the path)
  - Pravachana Vatsalya (Affection for the teachings)
- Mantras and Jayamala (Pages 31-35): Includes a list of mantras for each of the sixteen virtues and a "Jayamala" summarizing their importance and benefits, such as attaining liberation.
Shri Panchameru-Puja (Pages 36-43):
- Introduction (Page 36): This section is dedicated to the five sacred Meru mountains in Jain cosmology, which are adorned with numerous Jin-temples and images of Tirthankaras.
- Invocation and Offerings (Pages 36-40): Describes the Puja for the deities residing in the temples on these five Meru mountains (Sudarsana, Vijaya, Achala, Mandara, and Vidyunmali), invoking them and offering the traditional eight substances.
- Jayamala (Pages 41-43): A concluding prayer that praises the grandeur of the Meru mountains and the Jinalaya (temples) on them, emphasizing devotion to the divine beings within.
Shri Nandishwar-Dwipa-Puja (Pages 44-51):
- Introduction (Page 44): Focuses on the sacred Nandishwar Dwipa, a significant island in Jain geography, where gods perform worship and there are numerous temples.
- Invocation and Offerings (Pages 44-50): Details the Puja for the deities and Jin-temples (52 in total) located on the Nandishwar Dwipa. The offerings are made with the intention of spiritual upliftment.
- Jayamala (Pages 50-51): A prayer summarizing the divine nature of Nandishwar Dwipa and the spiritual benefits of worshipping the deities there.
Shri Ratnatraya-Puja (Pages 52-55):
- Introduction (Page 52): Celebrates the "Ratnatraya" (Three Jewels) of Jainism: Samyak Darshan (Right Faith), Samyak Jnan (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct).
- Puja Rituals (Pages 52-55): Outlines the standard Puja offerings for these three fundamental principles of Jainism, highlighting their role in overcoming worldly suffering and attaining liberation.
Samyagdarshana Puja (Pages 56-60):
- Introduction (Page 56): Specifically focuses on "Samyagdarshana" (Right Faith) and its eight attributes.
- Puja Rituals (Pages 56-60): Details the offerings for Samyagdarshana, emphasizing its importance as the foundation for other virtues and its role in eradicating suffering.
Samyagjnana Puja (Pages 61-64):
- Introduction (Page 61): Dedicated to "Samyagjnan" (Right Knowledge), highlighting its eight aspects and its ability to dispel ignorance.
- Puja Rituals (Pages 61-64): Describes the Puja for Right Knowledge, stressing its power to destroy karmic obstacles and lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Samyakcaritra Puja (Pages 65-71):
- Introduction (Page 65): Focuses on "Samyakcharitra" (Right Conduct), also known as the thirteenfold conduct, which is considered the ultimate path to liberation.
- Puja Rituals (Pages 65-68): Details the Puja for Right Conduct, which involves the practice of the five Mahavratas (great vows) and other disciplines.
- Samuccaya Jayamala (Pages 69-71): A concluding prayer that unites the importance of all three Jewels (Darshan, Jnan, Charitra) and emphasizes their combined power for achieving liberation.
Svayambhu Stotra Bhasha (Pages 72-80):
- Introduction (Page 72): Provides an account of the origin of the "Svayambhu Stotra" (self-manifested hymn), composed by Acharya Samantabhadra. It recounts his illness and how the stotra manifested spontaneously, praising the twenty-four Tirthankaras.
- Stotra Verses (Pages 74-80): Contains the Hindi translation of the stotra, praising each Tirthankara with verses highlighting their individual virtues and accomplishments.
Kshamavani Parva Puja (Pages 81-92):
- Introduction (Page 81): This section is dedicated to Kshama Vani, the festival of forgiveness. It emphasizes Kshama as the root of Jain Dharma and the importance of the Three Jewels (Ratnatraya).
- Puja Rituals (Pages 81-88): Details the Puja for Kshama, incorporating references to the various virtues and disciplines that support it. The Puja involves offerings and prayers to purify oneself and practice forgiveness.
- Jayamala and Conclusion (Pages 89-92): Includes a "Jayamala" summarizing the virtues and principles of Jainism, followed by a concluding prayer and a note for self-reflection and correction.

Key Themes and Messages:

Importance of Virtues: The text strongly emphasizes the cultivation and practice of virtues like forgiveness, humility, truthfulness, and self-restraint as essential for spiritual progress.
Devotion and Worship: It provides a detailed framework for performing Pujas to honor these virtues and the divine figures associated with them, highlighting the offering of eight substances (water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, incense, lamp, food, fruit) as a means of purification and spiritual upliftment.
Spiritual Path: The book clearly outlines the Jain path to liberation, which involves Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct, supported by the ten supreme virtues and the sixteen virtues leading to Tirthankara status.
Sacredness of Jain Sites: It acknowledges the significance of sacred places like Panchameru and Nandishwar Dwipa, encouraging devotion through prayers and rituals.
Authorship and Tradition: The inclusion of "Kavi Shri Dyanataraya" and "Kavi Shri Malla" suggests that the text compiles devotional poetry and rituals by recognized Jain scholars and poets. The reference to Acharya Samantabhadra in the "Svayambhu Stotra" section highlights the historical depth of Jain literature.

In essence, "Dashlakshan Dharm Puja" is a comprehensive devotional manual designed to guide Jains in their spiritual practices, fostering a deeper understanding and internalization of core Jain principles and virtues.