Dooj Ka Chand

Dooj Ka Chand

72 Jinalay, a Jain temple at Talvana, near Mandvi (Kutch), Gujarat is a famous Jain pilgrimage with Tirthankar Shri Adinath Bhagwan as main Deity and 72 Deris of Tirthankars.

When we have Darshana of Lord Adinath, a young Jain girl was making an image with rice. Bottom as Swastika, middle three cubes and top as duj moon and bindi. What do you do? What is the meaning of this image? My wife asked her. I don't know. I am doing because others are doing. She replied. One gentle man tried to explain but my wife couldn't catch the meaning. I was watching from little distance. Then I asked the question to one Mahasati Sadhviji doing prayer in the temple.

The Swastika is a symbol of four Yonis: Deva, Manushya (Human), Tiryanch (birds, animals) and Narki (living in hell). The middle image of three cubes are gyan (knowledge), darshan (understandings) and charitrya (character). And the top duj moon and bindi is "Shiddh Shila" the final destination of all Jeevas. A Jeeva is moving in four Yonis as per it's Karma. During the life as Human, it can live a life with gyan, darshan and charitrya to merge with the "Shiddh Sheela" the Nirvana of complete peace. The rice is a symbol of Akshat, the eternity. While making the image, one pray God to bless the path to reach Shiddh Sheela. She explained.

I was surprised with the image of duj moon with bindi in Jainism, the same in Hinduism and same in Islam, as the symbol of the Almighty, the final junction of all creatures.

In Hinduism, it is R kar and Bindi of Aum. The sound is Ram, the bij mantra and the mantra to chant Rama, Rama, Rama. (Not only the Sun of Raja Dasharath!)

In Islam, it symbolizes on all structures and flags of Islam followers. They celebrate Ramadan Eid after looking at dooj ka chand (Z Hijjah Moon). And at the moment, Venus remains above the Moon in the sky, making beautiful picture of ँ dooj ka chand and bindi. They follow Hijari lunar calendar based on lunar visibility.

The union of Moon (mind) and Venus (beauty) is called Romance in Jyotish. Therefore, the most beautiful girl may be called "Chaudavi ka Chand" (can have further beauty) but She is "Dooj ka Chand" for many.

Human life is also an opportunity to know the "Self", "the Being", and it is limited like "dooj ka chand". Otherwise at the end we may have regrets, looking at the balance sheet. 

Awake till the light of life is illuminating. 

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय, तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय , मॄत्योर्माअमॄतं गमय । 

Punamchand
27 March 2015