Chant for a Jaina Child

Summary

“Chant for a Jaina Child” is a devotional hymn composed by Leona Smith Kremser for young followers of Jainism. Written in the style of a traditional shanti prayer, the chant uses the refrain “Like unto the Lord Nemi” to connect each aspiration to the example of the twenty-second Tīrthaṅkara, Lord Neminātha. The poem begins with an invocation of peace (shanti) and petitions Lord Nemi to instill in the child the Jaina religion of non‑injury, the central ethical tenet of Jainism that ensures all living beings may live peacefully. Subsequent stanzas ask for joy in fulfilling religious duties such as prayer and study, compassion for animals suffering in misery, and the ability to eat food without harming living creatures, thereby honouring the ideal of ahiṃsā even in diet. The chant then appeals for freedom from attachment by requesting that the child gladly cast down his or her jewels so that the wrong possession of wealth does not deceive the soul. It invokes the Jaina Three Jewels—Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct—to protect the aspirant, and prays for steadfast devotion so that the child becomes a living temple of mercy. The chant concludes with a plea to shed the impure body and live eternally in the pure soul, reflecting Jainism’s goal of liberation (mokṣa). The repetition of “Like unto the Lord Nemi” throughout the chant reinforces the message that Tīrthaṅkaras serve as models for ethical behaviour and spiritual aspirations. By framing lofty ideals in simple, rhythmic language, the hymn is intended to inculcate key Jain virtues in children and encourage them to internalize compassion, non‑attachment and the pursuit of spiritual purity from an early age.