“The name may sound new, but the essence remains the same – awakening friendship towards all living beings within our hearts.”
The Iriyavahi Sutra embodies this emotion. The Siddha Paramatma, who has attained liberation, remains eternally still, while all worldly souls constantly wander — from here to there, and from there to here. From sunrise, the mind and body are always in motion.
This is the key difference between the Siddha and the Samsari (worldly soul).
Peace does not lie in movement, but in stillness.
Just as the Siddha becomes eternally stable, so too must we cultivate stillness. Stability is Dharma.
To attain such stillness, the scriptures advise: Even while walking, strive to stabilize your mind. Take care not to harm any living being. And if any harm occurs during movement, perform Pratikraman (atonement) upon becoming still again.
🧘♂️ What Is the Iriyavahi Sutra?
The Iriyavahi Sutra is a ritual of return from motion to stillness. It involves introspective repentance for any harm—intentional or unintentional—caused to living beings during movement.
When we begin our spiritual practices, we may not remember or understand full-hour Pratikramans. But this short sutra, “Ichchhami Paddikkamiun Iriyavahiyāe,” allows us to sincerely atone for misdeeds during movement.
This brief 1–2 minute Pratikraman once led the monk Aiyavanta to attain Kevalgyan (omniscience).
🧒 Aiyavanta Muni’s Story: The Power of Innocence and Devotion
At just nine years old, Aiyavanta Muni, filled with renunciation but limited knowledge, unknowingly placed his wooden bowl in a small stream during monsoon.
When senior monks complained to the Guru about this act possibly harming water-dwelling beings, the Guru advised Aiyavanta Muni to perform the Iriyavahi Sutra.
He recited it with pure devotion, exactly as instructed.
This single act of heartfelt repentance led him to attain Kevalgyan and Kevaldarshan.
Despite his young age and limited knowledge, his inner purity made him worthy. This shows that liberation does not require great intellect—only pure intention.
🧭 What Does “Iriyavahi” Mean?
- Iriya = movement
- Pathik = traveler
This sutra is for those traveling, to repent any harm caused during the journey.
🧩 The Sutra’s Three Parts
- Nature (Prakriti)
- Classification of Living Beings (Jeev Vargikaran)
- Types of Violations (Viradhna)
Let’s explore each:
1️⃣ Nature: Respect for All Creation
We unintentionally harm many small beings during movement:
- Crushing insects (panakkamane)
- Destroying seeds (biyakkamane)
- Damaging green plants (hariyakkamane)
- Killing dew-dwelling organisms (osa)
- Damaging nests (karoliya)
Unknowingly, we commit violence. Recognizing this, the sutra urges us to ask forgiveness.
2️⃣ Jeev Classification: Five Categories
Living beings are classified by senses:
- One-sensed (Ekendriya): Touch only
- Two-sensed (Beindriya): Touch + Taste
- Three-sensed (Treindriya): Touch + Taste + Smell
- Four-sensed (Chaurindriya): + Sight
- Five-sensed (Panchindriya): + Hearing
All beings, regardless of sense count, deserve compassion.
3️⃣ Ten Types of Violations (Viradhna)
- Abhihaya – Striking a being
- Vattiya – Covering or suffocating it
- Lesiya – Crushing underfoot
- Sanghaiya – Instigating conflict between beings
- Sanghatiya – Causing harm through contact
- Pariyaviya – Surrounding or attacking from all sides
- Kilaamiya – Torturing to the point of suicidal distress
- Uddaviya – Causing fear
- Thana-Othana-Sankamiya – Moving a being from one place to another
- Jiviyavavroviya – Depriving a being of its life
We end with: “Tassa Michchhami Dukkadam” – “For all these, I ask forgiveness.”
🧠 How to Practice?
The sutra can be learned in just 15 minutes a day, broken into three parts. This division is known in scripture as sampada. With time and sincerity, the meanings will begin to resonate deeply.
Even if you remember only this much:
“Ichchhami Paddikkamiun Iriyavahiyāe Tassa Michchhami Dukkadam”
—then you’re on the right path.
🌍 Deeper Message: Universal Friendship
When you seek refuge in the Paramatma (Chattari Mangalam), He accepts you.
But if you say, “I love God but not the world’s other beings,” He will not accept you.
Just as a daughter-in-law who loves her husband but hates his parents is not welcome in the home—
God, too, does not accept those who do not love all of His creation.
To attain His refuge, you must love every soul as you love Him.
🌟 Conclusion: Let the Sutra Live Within You
The Iriyavahi Sutra teaches us to respect nature, classify beings with awareness, and repent our interactions.
Its purpose is simple:
To cleanse the heart and foster friendship with all living beings.
This sutra is especially powerful in today’s times. Even events like pandemics (e.g., COVID-19) may be linked to karmic debts—suffering we caused to others in past lives.
As we ignored others’ pain, now nature watches our pain.
Let this sutra be your daily repentance, your inner voice, and your path to peace.
🙏 Ichchhami Paddikkamiun Iriyavahiyāe Tassa Michchhami Dukkadam 🙏
Even if you don’t remember the whole Pratikraman, let this one line become part of your soul.