Siddha Chakra Mandal Vidhan Pooja

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Siddha Chakra Mandal Vidhan Pooja" by Santlal Pandit:

Book Title: Siddha Chakra Mandal Vidhan Pooja Author: Santlal Pandit Publisher: Shailesh Dahyabhai Kapadia Core Theme: This text details the elaborate ritualistic worship of the Siddha Chakra (also known as the Navapada or Nine Sacred Essences in Jainism), which is a central symbol in Jainism. The ritual is primarily performed during the Ashtika Parva (eight-day festival) and is believed to remove afflictions and bestow blessings.

Key Components and Ritual Steps:

1. Significance and Origin:

   • The Siddha Chakra Mandal Vidhan is particularly significant during the Ashtika Parva.
   • Performing this ritual meticulously is said to alleviate numerous hardships.
   • It is historically linked to Sati Mainasundari, whose devotion and ritual are credited with curing Shreepal and 700 other lepers of their affliction.

2. Qualifications of the Practitioner (Acharya):

   • The priest or leader of the ritual should be proficient in Syadvada (Jain logic), knowledgeable, free from laziness, healthy, skilled in actions, virtuous, a conqueror of senses, and someone who reveres the Devas (Jinas), Shastra (scriptures), and Guru.

3. Setting the Ritual Space:

   • The ritual should take place in a consecrated and well-decorated area of the temple (Mandirji).
   • The space should be adorned with bells, flags, and decorative arches (toranas).
   • Four sacred pots (kalash) should be placed in the four corners, accompanied by women singing auspicious songs (mangala geet).
   • Musical instruments like bheri, mridanga, jhanjh, and majira should be played.

4. Preparing the Altar (Chowki):

   • A clean, flat platform (chowki) should be used, measuring at least 9 feet by 9 feet.
   • A clean sheet should be spread over the platform and secured around the edges.
   • A decorative pattern (mandana) should be created on the platform.

5. The Siddha Chakra Mandala:

   • The mandala is created in eight sections.
   • Each section contains a specific number of offerings (punja) or the sacred syllable 'Shri' written in five colors, following a sequence: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024.

6. Placing the Sacred Pots (Kalash):

   • Four large pots are placed on the mandala.
   • Each pot contains five turmeric roots, five betel nuts (supari), a small piece of silver, precious or semi-precious stones (five-ratna or nine-ratna), a packet of dry fruits, dubb grass, and a coconut wrapped in red cloth.
   • These pots are then connected by wrapping sacred thread (kalawa or mauli) around them three times.

7. Installation of the Siddha Yantra:

   • In the center of the mandala, the syllable 'Om' (ॐ) is drawn, and a platform (chowki) is placed upon it.
   • An altar (sinhasana) is placed on the platform, followed by the Siddha Yantra.
   • A canopy (chhatra) is placed above the Yantra.
   • The idol of the Jina (Tirthankar) is placed facing North or East.
   • A sthapana (representation of the deity's presence) is placed in front, with a kalash on the side.
   • An akhand deepak (uninterrupted lamp) is lit near the altar and must remain lit until the end of the patha (recitation/reading). The mantra for lighting the lamp is: “ॐ ह्रीं अज्ञान तिमिर हरं दीपकं संस्थापयामि।”
   • The sacred scriptures (Shastra) and the Ashta Mangal (eight auspicious objects) are placed on the altar.

8. The Jap (Chanting) Ritual:

   • A minimum of 8,000 chants (jap) are prescribed, with 100,000 recommended for greater efficacy.
   • Ideally, 10-11 people should participate in the chanting.
   • Participants should observe celibacy, eat simple food, and sleep on the floor or a low cot.
   • Chanting can be done in the morning and evening.
   • Participants should wear clean, saffron-colored attire.
   • Each chanter should have a dedicated seat, a low platform (pata) in front, a ghee lamp, incense burner (dhupdan), and a rosary (mala) for counting chants.
   • To keep track, cloves (laung) are placed on the platform (one per completed mala), and a clove is offered to the fire after each mala. A record should be maintained to avoid errors in counting.

9. Purification Rituals:

   • Water Purification: Specific mantras are chanted while sprinkling sandalwood paste on the pots of water to purify them.
   • Body Purification (Anga Shuddhi): Mantras are recited for purifying the body and offering sandalwood. This involves touching one's own body.
   • Clothing Purification (Vastra Shuddhi): Mantras related to purifying clothing are recited.
   • Tilak Application (Tilak Patra): Mantras are recited while applying tilak to nine parts of the body (head, forehead, throat, chest, ears, arms, armpits, hands, and navel).
   • Protection Binding (Raksha Bandhan): A sacred bracelet (kankana) is worn with a mantra for protection.
   • Sacred Thread Ceremony (Yajnopavita): The sacred thread is worn with a mantra invoking purity and the triple jewel (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct).
   • Ring Wearing (Mudra Dharan): Rings are worn with mantras.
   • Crown Wearing (Mukut Dharan): A crown is worn with a mantra.
   • Earring Wearing (Kundal Dharan): Earrings are worn with a mantra.
   • Necklace Wearing (Haar Dharan): A necklace is worn with a mantra.

10. Purification of the Ground (Bhumi Shuddhi):

    • Mantras invoking wind and cloud deities are chanted for ground purification.
    • Kusha grass dipped in water is sprinkled on the ground.
    • Mantras related to serpents (Naga) and cloud deities are recited.
    • Invocation of Deities: Mantras are recited to invoke the Four Guards (Chaturnikaaya Dev) and Directional Guardians (Dikpalas), accompanied by showering flowers (pushpakakshepana). Specific invocations are made for wind deities (Pavan Kumar), architectural deities (Vastu Kumar), cloud deities (Megh Kumar), fire deities (Agni Kumar), and serpent deities (Naga Kumar).
    • Offerings of flowers are made to the ten Directional Guardians (Dash Dikpal) with specific mantras.

11. Installation of the Jina Idol and Abhishek:

    • The idol of the Jina is brought from an old altar and placed on a special platform.
    • The idol is bathed (abhiseka) with purified water, reciting verses and mantras for the Abhishekam of the 24 Tirthankars. The mantra specifies the location, time, and purpose of the abhisekam for the purification of karma.
    • The purified Yantra is then placed on the main altar.

12. Performing the Main Pujas:

    • After the installation, the main pujas begin. The text details several rounds of pujas, often referred to as first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth pujas, each involving offerings to the Siddha Chakra and the five supreme beings (Panch Parmeshthi - Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu).
    • These pujas involve offering water, sandalwood, rice (akshata), flowers, incense (dhupa), lamps (deep), food offerings (naivedya), fruit, and ardha (a mixture of offerings).
    • Each puja is dedicated to specific numbers of virtues or qualities of the Siddha Paramashthi, progressing from eight to 1024 qualities.
    • The Jaymala (victory song/hymn) is recited, praising the Tirthankars and their qualities.
    • Specific mantras like 'ॐ ह्रीं अर्ह असि आउ सा नमः' are chanted throughout the process.

13. The Havana (Fire Ritual):

    • On the concluding day or a designated auspicious time, a havan (fire ritual) is performed.
    • Havan Ingredients: The havan requires specific ingredients like almonds, pistachios, dates, coconut shavings, raisins, cloves, camphor, sandalwood, fragrant woods (devdaru, agar, tagar), rice, sesame seeds, lentils, wheat, barley, gram, ghee, and sugar.
    • Havan Kunds: The ritual involves preparing specific fire pits (kund): a square one for the first Tirthankar, a triangular one for the south, and a circular one for the north. These pits are decorated and have sacred threads tied around them.
    • Agni Sthapana: Fire is established in the kunds using camphor and Kusha grass, accompanied by specific mantras.
    • Offerings: Offerings are made into the fire using specific mantras. The text outlines offerings for the Pithika Mantra, Jati Mantra, Nistaraka Mantra, Rishi Mantra, Surendra Mantra, Paramaraja Mantra, and Paramashthi Mantra.
    • Dashaansh Ahuti: Offerings are made in proportion to the number of chants performed (e.g., 1/10th of the mantra count).
    • Shanti Dhara: A stream of water is poured while chanting specific Shanti Dhara verses for peace and well-being.
    • Concluding Blessings: The ritual concludes with blessings for prosperity, health, and auspiciousness.

Overall Purpose:

The "Siddha Chakra Mandal Vidhan Pooja" is a powerful and comprehensive Jain ritual aimed at invoking the blessings of the Siddha Chakra and the divine beings associated with it. It's a practice of deep devotion, purification, and spiritual merit, designed to remove obstacles, overcome suffering, and attain spiritual progress. The detailed instructions cover every aspect, from preparing the space and materials to the specific mantras and actions required for each stage of the elaborate worship.