How to do pratikraman at home

Here is a simple, traditional way to do pratikraman at home. Keep it sincere and unhurried. If you know the full Avashyak/Pratikraman sutras, please use them; if not, the abbreviated method below is acceptable for beginners.

Preparation

• Clean, quiet place; sit on a clean āsan. Wear simple, clean clothes. Keep a small cloth to cover the mouth if that is your practice.
• Best times: evening (Devāsī pratikraman) and morning (Rāi pratikraman). If you can do only once, prefer evening.
• Face a clean space or a small altar (if you have one). Switch your phone off.

Essence of pratikraman

• Samayik (equanimity)
• Alochanā (self-review/confession)
• Pratikraman (repentance for transgressions)
• Pratyākhyān (fresh resolve/renunciation for a defined time)
• Kāyotsarga (stillness/letting go)
• Kṣamāpanā–Maitrī (seeking and granting forgiveness to all)

Step-by-step (abbreviated home format, 15–30 minutes) 1) Mangala and refuge - Recite Navkār Mantra slowly with awareness. - Mentally bow to Arihanta, Siddha, Āchārya, Upādhyāya, and Sādhu–Sādhvī.

2) Samayik (5–12 minutes) - Sit steadily (padmāsan/ardha-padmāsan/chair with straight back). - Breathe gently; focus on the Navkār or pure awareness of the soul (ātma-chintan). Cultivate neutrality toward all.

3) Iriyā-vahiyā (awareness of movement) and general repentance - Acknowledge harm caused while moving, speaking, eating, etc., knowingly or unknowingly. - If you know the sutra, recite Iriyāvahiyam and Tassa Uttariyam. If not, say in simple words: “Whatever faults I have committed by mind, speech, or body—knowingly or unknowingly—I repent them.”

4) Alochanā (specific review) - Gently review the day or night: any himsā (harm to any jīva), asatya (untruth), asteya (taking what was not given), maithuna-aprāmānya (sensory excess), parigraha (possessiveness), anger, pride, deceit, greed. - Householders may review lapses in the 12 vows (anuvrata, guṇa-vrata, śikṣā-vrata), five samitis, and three guptis. - Admit specific faults plainly in your mind: “I did this; it was wrong; I regret it.”

5) Pratikraman (repentance) and Kṣamāpanā (forgiveness) - With humility, recite or say: “Khamemi savva jīve, savve jīvā khamantu me; mittī me savva-bhūesu, veram majjha na keṇai.” Meaning: “I forgive all living beings, may all living beings forgive me; I have friendship with all, enmity toward none.” - Also say “Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṁ” with true repentance.

6) Kāyotsarga (2–5 minutes) - Stand or sit motionless, spine straight, body relaxed; remain in pure self-awareness. - If you know it, recite Logassa (Ucchuyagāre) slowly; otherwise continue Navkār japa in silence.

7) Pratyākhyān (renewed resolve) - Take a practical, time-bound resolve to avoid specific faults until the next sunrise/sunset. Examples: - “Till sunrise, I renounce anger and harsh words.” - “Tomorrow I will avoid carelessness in walking and speaking.” - “I will abstain from vihisā-causing foods (e.g., root vegetables) tomorrow,” as per your tradition and capacity. - Keep it realistic and sincere.

8) Closing - Cultivate Maitrī-bhāvanā (friendliness), Pramoda (appreciation), Karuṇā (compassion), and Madhyasthata (equanimity). - End with Navkār or a short Maṅgal (e.g., “Sarve jīvā sukhi bhavantu”—may all be happy).

Notes on traditions

• Shwetāmbara: Pratikraman is performed with the Avashyak/Pratikraman-sutra sequence (Samayik, Iriyāvahiyam, Tassa Uttariyam, Logassa, Alochanā, Pratikraman, Pratyākhyān, Kāyotsarga, etc.) in the morning (Rāi) and evening (Devāsī), along with Pakṣik (fortnightly), Caturmāsi, and Samvatsari during Paryushan. Home practice can follow the same order in brief if the full text is not known.
• Digambara: Daily Kṣamāpanā–Pratikraman is done with Samayik, Alochanā, Pratikraman, Pratyākhyān, and Kāyotsarga. Many also include Deva-pūjā, Guru-vandanā, Svādhyāy, and Tap as regular disciplines. The essential spirit—repentance, restraint, and equanimity—is the same.

Short 10-minute version (when you have very little time)

• 1 min: Navkār and refuge.
• 3 min: Silent Samayik.
• 2 min: Alochanā—review key faults of the day.
• 2 min: Kṣamāpanā—“Khamemi savva jīve … Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṁ.”
• 1–2 min: Kāyotsarga and a small Pratyākhyān for the next period.

Practical tips

• Regularity matters more than length. Even a brief, sincere daily pratikraman purifies.
• Be specific in Alochanā and realistic in Pratyākhyān.
• Maintain gentle awareness rather than self-criticism; the goal is inner purification and non-violence.

If you need beginner-friendly sutra texts and meanings, you can study a simple Navkār, Logassa, and basic Kṣamāpanā from JainKnowledge.