Kayotsarga ( , pka, काउस्सग्ग ) is a

yogic Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

posture which is an important part of the

Jain meditation Jain meditation (''dhyāna'') has been the central practice of spirituality in Jainism along with the Three Jewels. Jainism holds that emancipation can only be achieved through meditation or Shukla Dhyana.' According to Sagarmal Jain, it aims t ...

. It literally means "dismissing the body". A

tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...

is represented either seated in yoga posture or standing in the kayotsarga posture. ''Kayotsarga'' means "to give up one's physical comfort and body movements", thus staying steady, either in a standing or other posture, and concentrating upon the true nature of the soul. It is one of the six essentials (''avasyaka'') of a Jain ascetic and one of the 28 primary attributes of a

Digambara monk Digambara Sādhu (also ''muni'', ''sādhu'') is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold ''sangha''. They are also called ''Nirgranth'' which means "one without any bonds". Di ...

Twenty-one of the tīrthankaras of

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...

are said to have attained ''

moksha ''Moksha'' (; sa, मोक्ष, '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'' and ''mukti'', is a term in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, enlightenment, liberation, and release. In its soteriology, ...

'' in the kayotsarga “standing meditation” posture. An example of unflinching standing meditation is that of '' Arihant

Bahubali Bahubali (), a much revered figure among Jains, was the son of Rishabadeva (the first ''tirthankara'' of Jainism) and the brother of Bharata Chakravartin. He is said to have meditated motionless for a year in a standing posture (''kayotsarg ...

'' who is said to have stood in kayotsarga for a year.

Sāmayika

In performing ''sāmayika'' (daily meditation), the ''śrāvaka'' has to stand facing north or east and bow to the '' Pancha-Parameṣṭhi''. He then sit down and recites the

Namokara mantra The Ṇamōkāra mantra or Navkar Mantra is the most significant mantra in Jainism, and one of the oldest mantras in continuous practice. This is the first prayer recited by the Jains while meditating. The mantra is also variously referred to ...

a certain number of times, and finally devotes himself to holy meditation. This consists of: *''pratikramana'', recounting the sins committed and repenting for them, *''pratyākhyanā'', resolving to avoid particular sins in future, *''sāmayika karma'', renunciation of personal attachments, and the cultivation of a feeling of regarding every body and thing alike, *''stuti'', praising the twenty-four Tīrthankaras, *''vandanā'', devotion to a particular ''Tirthankara'', and *''kāyotsarga'', withdrawal of attention from the body (physical personality) and becoming absorbed in the contemplation of the spiritual Self.

Notes

References

* * Yoga concepts Jain philosophy Meditation {{Jainism-stub