You must have often observed in the lectures, classes or while reading Jinvani that we always do benediction or mangalacharan in the starting. Here is a short questionnaire which will solve your queries about benediction:
Q. What is a Mangalacharan?
A. Mangalacharan is a prayer done at the beginning of any holy cause for its successful completion.
Mangalacharan or benediction is initial verse in a book meant to invoke the divine blessing.
Q. Why should benediction be done at the starting?
A. The main purpose of benediction is for the completion of the holy cause without any disturbances in between.
Q. We have seen the completion of work of evil people without any disturbances even without benediction, then why should we do it?
A. Benediction is not only done for the successful completion of a cause but also make the thoughts pious before starting the holy work. If benediction is not at the beginning, the sacred thoughts won’t come and the cause will not be holy.
The people who are seen completing their work without any benediction are already doing evil work which increases the world, then the completion of such work is also possible without benediction.
Q. Does the God help the person performing benediction at the beginning and punish the person not doing it?
A. No, everyone endures the result of their own karma. No one can punish the person having good karma or help the person having bad karma.
Q. What should be the characteristics of benediction?
A. Benediction must include the prayer of only omniscient, passionless(veetragi) God who is free from karma and left the worldly fake pleasures. It bows to panch parmesthis or Jinvani. The most popular benediction is Namokar Mantra.
Q. Can you give me some examples of benediction?
A. As already stated, Namokar Mantra is the most popular benediction done by Acharya Pushpdant in Kshatkhandagam.
ॐ नमो अरिहंताणं ।ॐ नमो सिद्धाणं ।
ॐ नमो अायरियाणं ।ॐ नमो उवज्झायाणं । ॐ नमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं ।
The other popular mangalacharan which bows to the kund-kund acharya is:
मंगलं भगवान वीरो, मंगलं गौतमो गणी।मंगलं कुन्दकुंदाद्यो, जैन धर्मोऽस्तु मंगलं॥
सर्व मंगल मांगलयम सर्व कल्याण कारणम! प्रधानं सर्व धर्मानम, जैनम जयतु शासानम !!
One of my favourite written by Pt. Shri Todarmal Ji is:
अरहन्त सिद्ध सुरि उपाध्याय साधु सर्व,
अर्थ के प्रकाशी मांगलिक उपकारी हैं |
तिनको स्वरुप जान राग तैं भई जो भक्ति,
काय को नमाय स्तुति को उचारी है ||
धन्य-धन्य तुमही से काज सब आज भये,
कर जोरि बार-बार वन्दना हमारी है |
मंगल कल्याण सुख ऐसो हम चाहत हैं,
होहु मेरी ऐसी दशा जैसी तुम धारी है ||
P.S.: This Questionnaire is taken from the Mokshmarg prakash written by Pt. Shri Todarmal Ji.
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