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Trimantra
bringing home a fake diamond instead of the real one! Those
who do it mechanically, get a glass stone! Check how many of
these people have awareness.
Bhaav Puja: Dravya Puja
The sadhus and acharyas of the Jain faith ask me why
they should say the other mantras along with the Navkar mantra.
They ask me what is wrong with sayi ng just the Navkar mantra
alone. I tell them that the Jains cannot say the Navkar mantra
alone. Who can say the Navkar mantra alone? Only the ascetics
who have no children, who have renounced their worldly
possessions and who are removed from the worldly life can say
the Navkar mantra alone.
People say the mantra for two purposes. They are bhaav
and dravya pujas. Bhaav puja, the devotion of inner intent only,
is for spiritual progress. Dravya puja, is the devotion and offerings
in the relative realm for obstacles in the worldly interactions.
Those people who do bhaav puja say it to progress further
spiritually, while others say it to reduce the obstacles in their
worldly life. Those who have difficulties in life need the blessings
of all celestial beings. Therefore they need to recite all the mantras
in the Trimantra. Those who have no worldly desires and are
exclusively seeking spiritual progress may recite only the Navkar
mantra.
An idol of the Lord outside is dravya God. The idol of
Lord Mahavir is dravya Mahavir; and the idol of the Lord
within is bhaav Mahavir. I too bow down to that Lord.
Trimantra Wins The Mind
As long as the mind is there, the mantras are needed. The
mind will be there until the very end. As long as this body is
there, this mind will be there. Mantra means to contain, appease
and transcend the mind. Reciting the Trimantra is an excellent
way to calm and please the mind.