What to do before entering a Temple?

WHAT TO DO BEFORE VISTING A TEMPLE
From the very time of taking bath etc. at home, or since the desire to have jinendra Dev's darshan (vision) begins, the fruit and significance of that darshan starts, Our earlier Acharyas (teachers) say. जब चिन्तो तब सहस्र फल, लक्खा फल गमणेय। थोड़ा—कोड़ी अनन्त फल जब जिनवर दिट्ठेय।। [Jab chinto tab sahastra phal, lakkha phal gamaneya, Koda-kodi anant phal, jab Jinvar dittheya.] When thought, hundred fruits, lacs on going over, Infinite, crores of fruits accrue when offering to Jinvar is made. Which means, when the very thought of having the god's darshan comes to our mind, that, `Oh, I have to go to the temple, have god's darshan. `The moment such thought occurs, thousand fold fruit begins. When you, carrying the samagri, chanting bhajan etc. proceed in eeryapath towards the temple, you receive lacfold fruit. But when reaching the temple, you have the actual darshan of the jinmurti, the fruit is certainly endless, crores of times. You must have read, heard that Shri Sammed Shikhar Ji's prayer of each tonk (a holy spot having the god's feet or their impressions) begets fruit many-many crores times of fasts. Not only that, Shri Umaswami Acharya ji, the auther of Tatvarthsutra too has written in the final hymn that— दशाध्याये परिच्छिन्ने तत्वार्थे पठते सति। फलं स्यादुपवासस्य भाषितं मुनि पुंगवै:। [ Dashadhyaye parichhinne tatwarthe pathate sati, Falam stadupawasasya bhashitam muni pungavaig]. That is, reading ten chapters of the Tatrarthasutra delivers the fruit or credit of one fast. So say the renowned sages. In the present day modern and materialistic world, whenever there is a mention of fruit, some people consider it just a temptation put forth, to make a person learn to visit a temple, go on a pilgrimage. receite sutras, psalms etc. But it is far from truth that all is mere temptation or hypocracy and one might not get the fruit. The vision of our earlier teachers Acharyas was greatly scientific and psychological. They devised a simple, pure arithmetic. For instance, five litres of water can be made sweet with just two spoonful of saccarine. Both happen to be equally sweet. But is there any comparison between one kilo of sugar and two spoonful of saccarine ? Exactly, in the same way the amount of credit one obtains through refinement of fruits earned by the means of fasts numbering crores of days, can be had just by paying a single visit to temple, performing a single tonk of Shikarji's prayer and reciting the it for a single day. If all these acts are performed whole-heartedly, with passion and envolvement, we should have no misgivings about the fruit or outcome. On way to the temple, one should keep chanting some hymn, stotra, psalm, prayer etc. for example, Darshan Stuti, Bhaktamar Stotra, Vinai Patha, Meri Bhawana, Alochana Patha, Mahavirashtaka, Manhalashtaka, Gomatesh stuti, etc. Be they in any language-Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakriti, they should be learnt by heart and chanted from memory. That brings out the importance of Dev-darshan and consistency in its practice. It does refine the fruits that are capable of destroying our unholy or sinful acts. Here, a simple dev-darshan strotra in Sanskrit is being presented. It must be put into memory.

देव दर्शन-स्तोत्र
दर्शनं देवदेवस्य, दर्शनं पाप नाशनम्। दर्शनं स्वर्ग सोपानं, दर्शनं मोक्ष साधनम्।। दर्शनेन जिनेन्द्राणां, साधुनां वन्दनेन च। न चिरं तिष्ठते पापं, छिद्र हस्ते यथादकम्।। वीतराग मुखं दृष्टवा, पद्मराग सम प्रभं। जन्म-जन्म कृतं पापं, दर्शनेन विनश्यति। दर्शनं जिन सूर्यस्य, संसार ध्वान्त—नाशनम्।। बोधनं चित्त पदमस्य, समस्तार्थ प्रकाशनम्। दर्शनं जिन चन्द्रस्य सद्धर्मामृत—वर्षणं।। जन्म—दाह—विनाशाय, वद्र्धनं सुख—वारिधे। जीवादि तत्वं प्रतिपादकाय, सम्यक्त्व मुख्याष्ट गुणार्णवाय। प्रशान्त रूपाय दिगम्बराय, देवाधिदेवाय नमो जिनाय।। चिदानन्दैक रूपाय, जिनाय परमात्मने। परमात्म—प्रकाशाय, नित्यं सिद्धत्मने नम:।। अन्यथा शरणं नास्ति, त्वमेव शरणं मम। तस्मात्कारूण्य भावेन, रक्ष—रक्ष जिनेश्वर:।। न हि त्राता, न हि त्राता, न हि त्राता जगत्त्रये। वीतरागात्परो देवो, न भूतो न भविष्यति।। जिने भक्ति—जंने भक्ति—जिंने भक्ति—दिने—दिने। सदा में स्तु, सदा में स्तु, सदा मे स्तु भवे—भवे।। जिन धर्म विनिर्मुक्तो, मा भवेच्चक्रवत्र्यपि। स्याच्चेटोपि दरिद्रोपि, जिन धर्मानुवासित:।। जन्म जन्म कृते पापं जन्म कोटि समार्जित। जन्म—मृत्यु जरा रोगं, हन्यते जिन दर्शनात्। अद्या भवत्सफलता नयन द्वयस्य, देव त्वदीय चरणांबुज वीक्षणेन। अद्य त्रिलोक—तिलवं प्रतिभासते मे, संसार वारिधिरियं चुलुक प्रमाणम्।। DEV DARSHAN STOTRA [Darshanam dev devasya, darshanam paap nashanam, Darshanam swarga sopanam, darshanam moksha sadhanam. Darshanen Jinendranam, sadhunam vandanen cha. Na chiram tishthate papam, chhidra haste yathodakam. Veetrag Mukham dratva, Padmarag Samam Prabham. Janma-janma kritam papam, darshanen vinashyati. Darshanam Jin suryasya, sansar dhwant-narshanam Bodhanam chitta padmasya, samastratha prakashanam. Darshanam Jin chandraya, saddharmamrita-varshanam. Janma-daha-vinashrya, vardhanam sukh-vardhe. Jivadi tatwam pratipadakaya, samyaktva mukhyastha gunarnvaya. Pramatma-prakashaya, nityam siddhatmane namah. Anyatha sharnam nasti, tvameva sharanam mum. Tasmatkarunya bhaven raksha-raksha Jineshwarah. Na hi trate, na hi trata na hi trtraye. Veetaragatparo devo, naaavishyati, Jine bhakti-Jine bhakti, Jine bhakti dine-dine. Sada meastu, sada meastu, bhave-bhave Jin dharma vinirmukto, ma bhavecchkravasiaha. Syacchetoapi daridroapi, Jin dharmanuvasitah. Janma-Janma Kratam Papam, Janama Koti Samarjitam. Janma-mirtyu jara rogaym, hanyate jin darshanat Adya bhavastsafalata nayan dvayasya, Dev twadiya charambuja veekshnena. Adya trilok-tilak pratibhasate mey, Sansar varidhi-rayam chuluk pramanam. ] EULOGY OF GETTING DEV-DARSHAN Darshan of the god of gods. darshan perishes the sins. Darshan is the ladder to heaven, darshan is the medium of salvation. Darshan of the most supreme Jin god, devotion of the sages. Do not allow sins to stay, as water does noy stay in a hand with a hole (outlet) By seeing the face of Jin Swamy, who is free from passion and envy, Whose radiance is like padmarage (moonga), a jewel. Sins committed over birth after birth are perished. With darshan of Jin, the sun, darkness of the whole world is destroyed. It extinguishes the heat (torture) of the birth and enlarges the ocean of joy. For the purpose of propounding Jiva (life) and other elements. Having right anf faith eight fundamental characteristics, One who has an absolutely tranquil form. I bow to the god of gods-Jin. One whose form is nothing but everlasting joy, Jin, the supreme soul, Who is the divine light, I bow to him, There is no reguge anywhere else, you alone are my shelter. Hence with the feeling of kindness, protect me always, Jineshwara. In all the three worlds, there is no protector, no protector elsewhere. There has never been anyone greater than the detacheo Jin, nor would ever be. May I get the devotion for Jin, devotion for Jin, devotion for Jin every day. May this devotion keep growing in each successive bieth. Whenever I get born, let my devotion (faith) be in him alone, if it is a poor man's life. I do not want a birth outside the Jin religion, even if it is that of a charavarti (king of kings). I would not like to be a monarch (outside this religion) even if I have to live the life of a poor slave. With Jin's darshan, sins accumulated over birth and death, old age and illness. Today, my life has attained fulfilment that my two eyes. Have got the gilmpse of both your feet. Compared to this, even the crown of all the three world would appear so trivial, As a palm-full water sems the water of the ocean of the world.

स्तुति
प्रभो ! पतित पावन मैं अपवान, चरन आयो शरण जी। यो विरद आप निहार स्वामी, मेट जामन—मरण जी।। तुम ना पिछान्या आन मान्या, देव विविध प्रकार जी। या बुद्धि सेती निज न जाण्यो, भ्रम गिण्यो हितकार जी।। भव विकट वन में करम वैरी, ज्ञान धन मेरो हर्यो। सब इष्ट भूल्यो भ्रष्ट होय, अनिष्ट गति धरतो फिर्यो।। धनि घड़ी यो धन दिवस यो ही, धन जनम मेरो भयो। अब भाग मेरो उदय आयो, दरश प्रभु जी को लख लयो।। छवि वीतरागी नगन मुद्रा, दृष्टि नासा पै धरैं। वसु प्रतिहार्य अनन्त गुणयुत, कोटि रवि छवि को हरैं।। मिट गयो तिमिर मिथ्यात्व मेरो, उदय रवि आतम भयो। मो उर हरष ऐसा भयो, मनु रंक चिन्तामणि लयो।। मैं हाथ जोड़ नवाय मस्तक, वीनऊँ तुव चरण जी। सर्वोतकृष्ट त्रिलोकपति जिन, सुनहुँ तारण तरण जी।। जाचूँ नहीं सुरवास पुनि नर—राज परिजन साथ जी। ‘बुध’ जाचहुँ तुव भक्ति भव—भव दीजिये शिवनाथ जी।। STUTI Prabho ! patita pawana main apawana, charan ayo sharna ji, You virad aap nihar swami, met jaman-maran ji, Tum na pichhanya aan manya, dev vividhi prakar ji, Ya buddhi seti nij na jandyo bhram ginyo hitakar ji, Bhava vikata vana mein karam vairi, gyaana dhan mero haryo, Sab istha bhoolyo bhrashta hoya, anishta gati dharato phiryo, Dhan ghadi dhan diwas yo hi, dhan janan mero bhyo, Ab bhagya mero udaya ayo, darash prabho ! ko lakh ayo. Chhavi veertaragi nagan mudra, drishti nasa par dharai, Vasu pratiharya anant gunayuta koti ravi chhavi ko harai. Mit gayo timir mithyatva mero, udaya ravi atam bhayo. Mo ur harash aiso bhayo, Menu ranka chintamani layo, Main hath joda navai mastaka, veenaun tum charan ji, Sarvotkrishta trilokapati Jin, sunahu taaran taran ji, Jachun nahin survas puni nar-raj parijan saam ji, `Bhdh' jaachanhoon tuva bhakti bhava-bhava deeijye shivnath ji. PYAYER Prabho ! Sanctifier of the sinner, I unholy have come to your refuge. Listen to my prayer, Lord, and put an end to the cycle of life and death. I did not recognise (O Lord) you, honoured others of different type of deties. This wisdom is futile, could not recognize my own self, counted illusion as my wel-wisher friend. In the rugged forest fo life, actions being enemy, took away all my wealth of knowledge. Forgot all the close ones, got corrupt, took to the inauspicious state. Blessed is the hour, blessed the day as such, blessed has become my birth (life). Now my fortune has awakened. `I've seen a flimpse of Prabho (god). Detached, posture naked, sight focussed at the nose. Adorned with eight Pratiharyas and, with innumerable qualities, robs crores of suns of the splendour. My gloom and illusion have dissolved, the sun of the spirit has risen. My heart overwhelmed with joy as would a beggar do to dind chintamani, the precious jewel. With folded hands and forehead bowed, I worship your feet. Greatest of all, the god of the three worlds, Jin, please hark my prayer as you are librated yourself and librator of the world. I don't ask my living in heaven, nor human kingdom nor even my own kith and kin. My mind just knows that life after life, you might give me your bhakti devotion O Lord os Salvation ! This Prabho ! Patita Pawan is a Hindi prayer. This should also be memorized and one should keep memorizing many more new hymns. There should at least be seven prayers for seven days so that you may make one patha or rercitation everyday with a feeling of devotion and understanding.