Answer

Pratikraman is a Jain practice of repentance, self-reflection, and purification. Its purpose is to recognize mistakes committed through mind, speech, and body, ask forgiveness, and strengthen the resolve not to repeat them.

A simple Pratikraman process is:

• Prepare yourself with cleanliness, calm mind, and humility.
• Bow to Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, and Sadhu-Sadhvi Bhagwant through Namaskar Mantra.
• Do Samayik bhav — sit peacefully with equanimity.
• Reflect on mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly.
• Recite repentance sutras according to your tradition and learning.
• Ask for forgiveness from all living beings.
• Do Pratyakhyan — take a vow or resolve to avoid specific faults in the future.
• End with peace, humility, and renewed awareness.

Explanation

The word Pratikraman means “turning back” — turning back from sinful, careless, or harmful actions and returning toward the path of right conduct.

During Pratikraman, a person reflects on faults such as:

• Violence or carelessness toward living beings
• Anger, pride, deceit, greed
• Harsh speech or lies
• Attachment, jealousy, ego, or hatred
• Neglect of vows, discipline, or spiritual duties

The inner feeling is:

• Alochana — honestly admitting one’s faults
• Pratikraman — repenting and turning away from them
• Pratyakhyan — resolving not to repeat them
• Kshamapana — asking forgiveness

Basic Order of Pratikraman

Different Jain traditions have different detailed procedures, but commonly Pratikraman includes:

1. Namaskar Mantra
2. Samayik preparation
3. Iriyavahiya / Iriyapathik Pratikraman — repentance for harm caused while walking or moving
4. Tassa Uttari — purification and preparation
5. Logassa — praise of the 24 Tirthankars
6. Karemi Bhante — acceptance of Samayik
7. Pratikraman sutras according to time and tradition
8. Alochana and repentance
9. Pratyakhyan — spiritual resolve
10. Universal forgiveness — Micchami Dukkadam / Khamemi Savva Jive

Types of Pratikraman

• Devasi Pratikraman — evening Pratikraman for faults of the day
• Rai Pratikraman — morning Pratikraman for faults of the night
• Pakshik Pratikraman — fortnightly
• Chaumasi Pratikraman — every four months
• Samvatsari Pratikraman — yearly, especially on Samvatsari during Paryushan

Spiritual Understanding

Pratikraman is not just recitation. Its true value is inner transformation.

The main feelings should be:

• “I have made mistakes.”
• “I sincerely repent.”
• “I ask forgiveness from all living beings.”
• “I will be more careful in future.”
• “May my soul move toward purity.”

Takeaway

Pratikraman is a sacred practice of cleansing the soul. Even if one does not know all sutras perfectly, doing it with humility, repentance, forgiveness, and a sincere resolve to improve is spiritually meaningful.