Jal Yatradi Vidhi - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jal Yatradi Vidhi" by Ratnashekharsuri, as described by the provided pages. The text details a specific set of Jain rituals, primarily focusing on purification and consecration ceremonies, likely for temples or idols.

Here's a breakdown of the key procedures outlined:

I. Preparation and Gathering of Sacred Water (Jal Yatra):

Water Collection: The ritual begins with collecting 108 pots of water, including Ganga water.
Purification of Vessels: A brass pot is to be cleaned and perfumed with incense.
Sacred Symbols: A saathiya (an auspicious symbol, often a swastika-like pattern) made of saffron is to be created inside the pot.
Offerings: Silver and five types of jewels are placed on the saathiya.
Enrichment of Water: Milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar, dates, and flowers made of gold and silver are added to the water.
Pouring the Water: 108 pots of water are poured into the vessel, ideally by a chaste woman and an esteemed shravak (lay follower).
Covering and Decoration: The pot is covered with a clean cloth. Incense and fragrance are applied. A sacred thread (gathiya), maramasigni (a type of sacred string), and geva (a decorative band) are tied around the neck of the pot.
Offering Water: The water is then offered as a stream.

II. Preparation for the Procession and Offerings (Balbaakulano Vidhi):

Gathering Offerings: A variety of items are collected: rice (chola), puffed grains (mag), chickpeas (chana), pulses (amada), barley (jav), wheat (javar), white and red mustard seeds (sarsov), nuts, almonds, betel nuts (sopari), raisins (drakh), sugar, pistachios, cashews, cardamom (elachi), betel leaves (nagavel na pan), flowers, ghee, etc.
Second Brass Vessel: Another brass pot is prepared with a saffron saathiya.
Placing Offerings: All the gathered offerings are placed in this brass pot.
Consecration: The offerings are then consecrated by sprinkling water thrice with a specific mantra (bhootbhati mantra).
Covering and Worship: The pot is covered with a clean cloth. A lamp and incense are lit, and seven smaran (meditations or chants) are recited.
Consecrating Water Vessels: Four brass pots are cleaned and perfumed by chaste women. Saffron saathiyas are made, and betel nuts and rice are placed inside.
Final Touches: Coconuts (shrifal) and four betel leaves are placed on top of the pots, covered with a cloth. Sacred threads and decorative bands are tied around them.

III. The Procession and Installation:

Procession: The deities are brought forth in a procession with music and fanfare.
Purification of Location: The procession moves to a location outside the city, typically a water source. The chosen spot is cleaned and purified with cow dung plaster (limpi).
Setting up the Altar: An altar (sinhasan) is prepared.
Placing Idols: Statues of the Chovisi (the 24 Tirthankaras) and Panchtirthi (a group of five deities) are placed on the altar.
Ritual Bath (Snatra Puja): A ritual bath ceremony is performed.

IV. Worship of the Water Deity (Jal Devi):

Going to the Well: Chaste women are to go to the well for water worship.
Purification of the Well Area: Sitting facing East or North, the area around the well is cleaned with pure water.
Creating Sacred Symbols: A rice saathiya is made. Betel nuts and two precious stones (labhva and subali) are placed.
Eight-Fold Worship: An eight-fold worship (ashtaprakari puja) of the water deity is performed. This includes offerings of water, sandalwood, flowers, rice, betel nuts, food offerings (naivedya), lamp, and incense, accompanied by specific mantras.
Further Offerings: Betel leaves filled with betel nut, topped with almonds, rice, bakula (a type of flower), and coconut, with a saffron saathiya on top, are offered.
Mantras and Invocation: Specific mantras are chanted three times to invoke the water deity.
Mystical Gestures: Three types of symbolic gestures (mudras) are shown: ankusha, mab, and kachap.
Further Mantras and Invocations: Mantras are chanted to invoke the presence of deities in the water.
Invoking Sacred Rivers: Verses are recited invoking the presence of sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Kaveri, Narmada, and the ocean in the well water.
Collecting Water: Water is then collected from the well for ritualistic purposes.
Water Blessing: The collected water is blessed with a mantra that invokes blessings for peace, contentment, prosperity, growth, and victory from the Tirthankaras and associated deities.
Bringing the Water: The blessed water is brought back.
Worship of Planets and Guardians: Offerings are made to the planets (graha) and the eight guardians of directions (digpal).
Worship of Auspicious Symbols: Worship of the eight auspicious symbols (ashtamangal) is performed.
Devotional Practices: Various kausaggas (meditations) and thoirs (prayers) are recited, dedicated to different deities and aspects of Jainism, such as peace (shanti), the twelve angas (limbs of scripture), and guardian deities.

V. Consecration of Idols (Bimb Pravesh):

Choosing Auspicious Day: An astrologer (nimittiya or jyotishi) is consulted to determine an auspicious day.
Purification of the Site: The area where the idol will be installed and the path from which it will be brought are purified. Offerings like coconuts are made.
Observing Vows: Ten days prior, individuals involved should observe vows like single meals (ekasana), celibacy (brahmacharya), abstaining from certain foods (sachitta parihar), avoiding impure activities, sleeping on the floor, and maintaining a cheerful disposition.
Purification of Idols: The priests performing the rituals should wear clean clothes, maintain focus, and chant purification mantras.
Consecrating Water for Idols: Water is consecrated with mantras, and this consecrated water is sprinkled in the temple and home.
Preparing the Installation Site: On the auspicious day, Brahmins or celibates are to draw four swastikas with rice. Offerings are placed at the four corners.
Preparing the Sacred Pot (Kun): A red, unblemished pot is prepared. Sacred threads, maramasigni, and miḍhol are tied to it. A saffron saathiya is made. Mantras are inscribed on its sides. A silver coin, and a packet of five jewels (ruby, pearl, coral, brass, gold) are placed inside.
Purifying and Filling the Pot: Chaste women are to bring pure water. The pot is filled with water, often in an unbroken stream.
Dressing and Decorating the Pot: The pot is covered with colored cloth, decorated with flower garlands, and topped with a coconut.
Placing the Pot: The pot is placed on the swastika after chanting specific mantras.
Lamp and Offerings: A lamp is lit for 24 hours, and incense is offered three times a day.
Protecting the Site: Animals and menstruating women are not allowed near the installation site.
Daily Rituals: For ten days, auspicious songs are sung by chaste women, and offerings (bahuli) are made three times daily.

VI. Ritual Bath (Snatra) and Offerings (Naivedya):

Purifying Water: Water is purified with specific mantras.
Daily Rituals: Daily purification of the mouth, body, and clothes is performed using specific mantras.
Consecrating Sacred Thread: Sacred threads (gevasutra) and decorative items are consecrated with mantras.
Purifying the Ground: The ground is purified with fragrant substances and flowers.
Preparing Consecrated Water: Sacred water is purified and collected in pots.
Eight-Fold Worship: An eight-fold worship is performed with water, sandalwood, flowers, rice, food offerings, fruits, lamps, and incense.
Observing Conduct: During these ten days, anger, disputes, harsh words, and disappointing beggars are to be avoided. Generosity and kindness are encouraged.
Intensified Worship: Three days before the auspicious time, extra incense is offered, and night vigils are observed.
Food Offerings (Naivedya): Specific food items like lapshi, pumala, kheer, karambho, dal, haldi, kanku, betel nuts, and sweetened rice are prepared.
Arranging Offerings: The offerings are placed in dishes.
Blessing Offerings: The offerings are blessed with mantras to please deities and guardians.
Sprinkling Sacred Water: Auspicious water is sprinkled around.
Decorating with Sacred Threads: Sacred threads are used to decorate.
Preparing Offerings for Different Directions: Specific offerings (bali) are prepared for different directions.
Night Vigil: Night vigils are observed.
Chanting and Offerings: Chants like Uvsaggaharam are recited.
Incense and Offerings: Incense is burned.

VII. Worship of Planets and Directional Guardians:

Preparing Altars: Altars are prepared with special colored pastes (yakshakardam) and covered with colored cloths.
Placing Offerings: Offerings like betel leaves, rice mounds, betel nuts, and copper/silver coins are placed on the altars.
Worship of Planets (Graha Puja): Detailed worship rituals are described for each of the nine planets, including their specific mantras, colors, flowers, fruits, food offerings, and praise verses. The order of worship is also specified.
Worship of Directional Guardians (Digpal Puja): Similarly, detailed worship rituals are described for the ten directional guardians (Indra, Agni, Yama, Nairuti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Ishana, Brahma, Naga), including their mantras, colors, flowers, fruits, food offerings, and praise verses.

VIII. The Procession of the Idol and Final Installation:

Carrying the Idol: A pure brahmachari (celibate) carries the idol of the Tirthankara.
Procession with Offerings: Other individuals carry offerings like rice, sacred threads, lamps, and auspicious symbols.
Welcome: Chaste women with sacred pots (kalash) welcome the procession.
Purification and Blessings: The owner of the house offers coconuts and rice, seeking forgiveness for any ritualistic errors.
Placing the Idol: The idol is placed on a specially prepared altar with specific materials like sandalwood, clay from various sources, and precious metals.
Creating Sacred Symbols: A swastika is drawn with saffron and other auspicious substances.
Consecration: The idol is consecrated with mantras.
Offerings: Various items and offerings are placed around the idol.
Worship and Gifts: The idol is worshipped, and gifts are given to artisans.
Further Offerings: Elaborate food offerings are made.
Blessing the Offerings: The food offerings are blessed.
Distributing Offerings: Portions of the offerings are distributed.
Procession and Blessings: The procession with the idol is accompanied by music, chanting, and blessings.
Home Installation: The idol is installed in the home with specific rituals, including placing handprints of kanku (red powder) on the entrance.
Final Worship and Distribution: The idol is worshipped, and offerings are distributed.
Purification and Anointing: The idol is purified and anointed.
Carrying the Idol: The idol is carried with great reverence.
Procession Details: The procession includes various musicians, flag bearers, dancers, and chariots.
Chanting and Offerings on the Way: Mantras are chanted, and offerings are made along the route.
Calling the Directional Guardians: Mantras are used to invoke the directional guardians.
Preparing the Welcome: At the home, the entrance is decorated, and chaste women welcome the idol.
Offerings at the Home: The owner of the house performs welcoming rituals.
Final Placement: The idol is placed in its designated spot with specific materials and further consecration.

IX. Ashottari Snatra (108 Ritual Baths) and Laghu Snatra (Short Ritual Bath):

Ashottari Snatra: This section details the extensive preparations and procedures for performing 108 ritual baths. It lists numerous items required, including idols, pots, cloths, purification materials, jewels, incense, lamps, and various food items for offerings. It also describes the specific mantras to be used for purification and consecration.
Laghu Snatra: A simplified version of the ritual bath is also described, with fewer preparations and a shorter procedure.

X. Ritual Bath Conclusion and Dissolution of Rituals:

Disposing of Sacred Water: The remaining sacred water is used for further purification.
Final Worship and Chants: Final worship and specific chants are performed.
Dissolving Rituals: The rituals for planets and directional guardians are concluded with specific mantras and offerings.
Distributing Offerings: The remaining offerings are distributed.
Final Blessings and Hospitality: The guru and the congregation are honored, and blessings are given.
Post-Ritual Observances: Continued observances for ten days are described, including fasting, chanting, and special prayers.
Consecration of Kalash (Water Pots): The procedure for consecrating water pots (kalash) is detailed, including their preparation, worship, and placement.
Flag Hoisting (Dhajaropan): The ritual of hoisting a flag on the temple is described, including its preparation, consecration, and accompanying ceremonies.

In essence, "Jal Yatradi Vidhi" is a guide for performing elaborate Jain ceremonies, emphasizing purity, devotion, and the invocation of divine presence through specific actions, offerings, and mantras. The text is highly detailed, providing instructions for each step of the process.