Tassa Uttari Sutra (Pledge of Kayotsarga)
The Tassa Uttari Sutra, said in samayika and pratikramana after the Iriyavahiya, resolves to stand in kayotsarga to purify and remove the thorns of faults.
Verses
For the sake of that (fault just confessed), by making it better, by atonement, by purification, and by the removal of thorns, for the destruction of sinful karmas, I stand in kayotsarga.
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
The Tassa Uttari Sutra is a short Prakrit formula of the Jain Shvetambara liturgy. In the published text of the five pratikramana sutras it follows the Iriyavahiya, the confession for harm done while moving about, which ends with micchami dukkadam. Having confessed that fault, the worshipper says tassa uttari, for the sake of that, and states a purpose: by making it better, by atonement, by purification and by the removal of thorns, for the destruction of sinful karmas, I stand in kayotsarga. Kayotsarga, from kaya, the body, and utsarga, giving up, is standing still with the body let go and the mind turned to the self. The next sutra, Annattha, lists the unavoidable movements, such as breathing and coughing, that do not break the pledge, and the pledge lasts until the worshipper completes it with the salutation to the Arihants. Verse 1, the only verse on this page, follows the published Panch Pratikraman Sutra of the Kharatara Gaccha, in which the formula runs as one sentence.
Did You Know?
Four means in the pledge
The sutra names four means. Uttarikarana is improving or refining the act, payachchhitta-karana is atonement, visohi-karana is purification, and visalli-karana is the removal of shalya. Each helps to clear the fault just confessed.
Three thorns
Shalya means a thorn or barb. In Jain teaching there are three, which are deceit, longing for worldly reward from one's practice, and wrong belief. Visalli-karana means pulling them out.
Its aim
The aim is stated at the end, pavanam kammanam nigghayanatthae, for the destruction of sinful karmas. Jain teaching holds that karma clings to the soul through carelessness, and that repentance and stillness loosen it.
The pledge itself
Thami kaussaggam means I stand in kayotsarga. The worshipper stands still, lets go of attachment to the body and turns inward. The Annattha sutra, which follows, lists the small movements that do not break the stillness.
Its place in the order
In the published pratikramana order, the Namokar mantra and Karemi Bhante come first, then Iriyavahiya, Tassa Uttari and Annattha. The stillness ends with the salutation to the Arihants.
Mahavira
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