Bharat Devotion
Embroidered artwork for A Jain Prayer of Repentance and Commitment to Non-Violence: Embroidered Jain ahimsa palm with a gold wheel, white marble temples and lotuses at dawn

A Jain Prayer of Repentance and Commitment to Non-Violence

MantrasMahavira

A Jain Prayer of Repentance and Commitment to Non-Violence

The Jain samayika vow: the devotee renounces sinful activity of mind, speech and body and resolves to keep equanimity for a set time.

Verses

Karemi Bhante! Saamaiyam Saavajjam Jogam Pachchakkhaami, Jaav Niyamam Pajjuvaasaami, Duviham, Ti-Vihenam, Manenam, Vaayaae, Kaaenam, Na Karemi, Na Kaaravemi, Tassa Bhante! Padikkamaami, Nindaami, Garihaami, Appaanam Vosiraami.

O Lord! I renounce all sinful activities for the duration of this equanimity practice, until I observe the prescribed rule.

I renounce them in two ways, threefold: with mind, speech, and body.

I neither commit them nor cause others to commit them.

For those transgressions, O Lord! I confess, I repent, I condemn, and I abandon my own self.

Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)

Auspicious Day

Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)

Best Time (Muhurta)

Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)

Sacred Offerings

Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering

Spiritual Benefits (Phalashruti)
  • Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home

Background

Karemi Bhante is the vow of Samayika, the first of the six daily essentials (Avashyakas, essential no. 1) laid out in the Avashyaka Sutra of the Jain tradition. Svetambara Jains recite it before sitting in samayika, the practice of equanimity held for 48 minutes, and again within the Pratikramana liturgy, whether at dawn, at dusk or during the eight-day Paryushana festival. The devotee renounces sinful activity (savajja jogam) through mind, speech and body, neither doing nor causing it, then criticises and relinquishes past faults. The words are in Ardhamagadhi, an ancient Prakrit language used in Jain scripture.

Did You Know?

Language

This verse is in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, an ancient Middle Indo-Aryan language closely associated with Jain scriptures, making it one of the oldest surviving liturgical languages of India.

Meaning

The text is the Jain vow of equanimity (Samayika): the practitioner renounces sinful activity (savajja yoga) through mind (mana), speech (vacha) and body (kaya), then turns back from (pratikramana), criticises and relinquishes past faults.

Structure

The practitioner renounces sinful activities (savajja yoga) for a fixed period (jāva niyamaṃ pajjuvāsāmi), then confesses, criticizes, and abandons the ego (appāṇaṃ vosirāmi) — a complete cycle of self-purification.

Context

This is part of the daily Pratikramana ritual, a key Jain practice of introspection and asking forgiveness for transgressions, often recited at dawn and dusk.

#Jainism#Samayik#Repentance#Ahimsa#Avashyaka#Prakrit
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The same teaching, echoed across traditions

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