Procedure for pratikaman

Pratikraman (pure Jain practice of returning to one’s Self and repenting transgressions) is traditionally done through the Six Avashyaks. Here is a simple, authentic procedure you can follow at home. Use the authorized Pratikraman book of your own tradition.

Preparation

• Clean place, clean asan, simple modest dress.
• Keep your Pratikraman text or audio ready.
• Maintain maun (silence) during the avashyaks.

Six Avashyaks (in order) 1) Samayik

• Sit steadily and take pachchakkhan (a small vow) for equanimity.
• Recite Navkar Mantra and remain in sama-bhava (equanimity) for the duration.
• Aim: calm the mind and turn within.

2) Chauvisantho (Chaturvimsati-stava)

• Offer stuti to the 24 Tirthankaras (Logassa/Chauvvisam).
• Contemplate their guna (virtues).

3) Vandana

• With deep humility, bow to Arihant–Siddha–Sadhu–Sadhvi; if present, respectfully bow to living sadhus/sadhvis; otherwise, do vandana mentally before their padmasana direction or the Jin murti.
• Cultivate vinaya (reverence), the root of dharma.

4) Pratikraman (Ālochana–Pratikraman)

• Reflect on faults in conduct, speech, and thought since the last pratikraman.
• Confess lapses against small or great vows (anuvrat/guṇavrata/śikṣāvrata), the 5 mahāvrat ideals, and the 18 pāpsthāna.
• Ask forgiveness with a pure heart: “Khamemi savva jīve… Michchhāmi Dukkaḍaṁ.”
• Resolve not to repeat the faults.

5) Kayotsarga

• Stand or sit motionless, withdraw attention from the body, and meditate on the pure soul.
• You may softly recite Navkar or remain in silent awareness.

6) Pratyakhyan (Pachchakkhan)

• Take practical, time-bound small vows to avoid specific faults until the next pratikraman (e.g., truthfulness, carefulness in eating, non-harm in mobility, control over anger, etc.).

How often to do

• Raisi (morning) and Devasi (evening) daily are ideal.
• If not possible: Pakshik (fortnightly), Chaumasi (four-monthly), and Samvatsari (annual, during Paryushan) are observed. Samvatsari Pratikraman is considered mandatory for a Jain layperson.

Closing

• Offer universal forgiveness to all beings and accept forgiveness from all: “Michchhāmi Dukkaḍaṁ.”
• Do bhāvanā of kṣamā, mārdava, ārjava, śaucha, satya, saṁyama, tapa, tyāga, ākinchanya, and brahmacharya as appropriate for a śrāvaka.

Notes on traditions

• Shwetāmbara: The sequence above is performed with canonical Prakrit/Ardhamāgadhī sutras (e.g., Iriyāvahiyam, Tassa Uttari, Jai Viyarāya, Logassa, Khamāsamana, Alochanā, Pratyākhyāna). Texts differ slightly among Mūrtipūjaka, Sthānakvāsī, and Terāpanth orders, but the sixfold structure and intent remain the same.
• Digambara: The core is Alochanā–Kṣamāpanā–Pratyākhyāna with Namokār Mantra, stutis of the 24 Tirthankaras, guru-vandana, kayotsarga, and practical vows. Many households perform daily or evening pratikraman (often after devapūjā/swādhyāy), and observe Pakṣika/Chaturmāsika/Samvatsarī as above. Exact sutras and order vary by paddhati; follow your ācārya’s approved text.

Essence to keep in mind

• Equanimity, truthful introspection, sincere confession, renunciation of faults, and firm resolve for careful living (samiti–gupti).
• No show, no haste; only inner purity and humility.

If you need a beginner-friendly outline or printable checklist, please refer to your tradition’s approved Pratikraman paddhati or the guidance of your local Jain sangh.