ok, so the name first then the pratima
Yes. In ritual practice, you typically begin by naming the deity or arihant, then proceed to the pratima (the idol/statue) or the visualized image.
How to apply it simply:
- Step 1: Say the name of the tirthankar, cosmic hero, or monk you are venerating (e.g., “Mahavira,” “Parshvanath,” or the appropriate jina/muni’s name).
- Step 2: Reference the pratima or idol you are focusing on (e.g., “this pratima of Mahavira,” or “the murti of Parshvanath”).
- Step 3: Perform the rest of the homage (up-prayashchitta, namokara mantras, bhakti, etc.) with the pratima before you.
Notes:
- If you are following Digambara or Śvetāmbara practices, there may be slight variations in the exact phrasing or additional mantras, but the general order—name first, then the pratima—remains common.
- It is also common to begin with the Namokar Mantra before concentrating on the pratima, depending on local practice.
If you want, tell me which jina or ordination you’re venerating (e.g., Mahavira, Parsva, or a specific muni), and I can give a precise example sequence for that context.