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Chānto (plural "chānta") are Nizari Ismaili ceremonies where one seeks forgiveness for a whole manner of sins. A popular chanto is called Du'a Karavi which is said before the Jamatkhana leaders. Du'a Karavi is said for forgiveness for daily sins. Once a year, on Laylat ul-Qadr, Ismailis say a series of sixteen chanta, they are as follows:
(Seeking forgiveness for failing to repent) Sultan Mohammed Shah gave a Farman (commandment) in which he said "The soul of man is very dear to God and therefore, for its salvation it is absolutely necessary that one should seek God's forgiveness", therefore Ismailis perform Tauba no chanto
(Seeking forgiveness for errors in Dasond) Dasond is obligatory on all Nizari Ismailis and is one of the foundations of the faith. This Chanta is taken to seek forgiveness for any unintentional errors that may have been committed during the year in giving Dasond.
(Seeking forgiveness for errors in administration) One of the most popular foundations of the faith, this Chanta is taken to seek forgiveness for administrative misdemeanours that may have been committed in seasons past.
(Seeking forgiveness for irregularity in performing daily prayers) Holy Du'a is the Nizari Ismaili daily obligatory prayer said three times a day. This Chanta is taken to seek forgiveness for all the unintentional lapses during the year.
(Seeking forgiveness of our sins) This chanto is said to seek forgiveness for unintentional sins. It is also a reminder for Ismailis to the importance of the leading one's lives according to the principles of Islam. Not all sins are considered forgiven by performing this chanto and there are various farmans on the matter.
(Seeking forgiveness for secret sins) This chanto is said in order to seek forgiveness for sins of thought, such as ill will or healousy towards someone. It reminds the Ismaili of the need to keep the mind as pure as possible.
(Seeking forgiveness for sins from past lives) This chanto is performed in order to seek forgiveness for sins committed in one's many past lives throughout the four ages (cyclical ages of the universe including the age of truth and the dark age among others). Nizari Ismailism teaches that due to Karma the soul has not attained salvation and through this chanto one can seek forgiveness for these sins. Ismailism teaches the theory of reincarnation.
(Seeking forgiveness for promises made prior to birth) This Chanta is taken to seek forgiveness for not having fulfilled promises when conceived, it is taught that the soul is fully aware of its origin in the womb and it makes a promise to live according to the farmans of the Imam-e Zaman.
(Seeking forgiveness for having deviated from the straight path) Sultan Mohammed Shah used the analogy of life on earth as a bridge - the successful crossing of which leads one to the other shore, i.e. to the destination. One crosses this bridge or "Pul Sirat" by living a life according to the tenets of Ismailism. This Chanta is taken to seek forgiveness for transgressions from the straight path.
(Seeking forgiveness for acts which prevent us from experiencing Noor) This chanto is performed to allow us to experience the Noor of Imamat and to remind one to perform meditation regularly.
(Seeking mercy from the pain of exitting from the body) It is taught that the more attached the soul is to the world the more difficult it is for the soul to leave the body at the time of death. Depending on a persons attachments, this process can be very painful to the soul. This Chanta is taken to seek mercy from this pain and to ease this passage.
(Seeking mercy at the time of accountability) This chanto is performed to ease the time of accounting when the soul is made to account for all its deeds on Earth. [back to content]
(Seeking mercy during the journey leading to the first destination) It is an Ismaili teaching that having accounted for its actions, the soul begins what is termed the first leg of its journey forward. During this time the soul is still attached to many earthly possessions and desires. These now become a burden which slow it down or may even prevent it from moving forward. This Chanta is taken to enable the soul to realize quickly the futility of carrying this burden and to discard it.
(Seeking mercy during the journey leading to the second destination) It is taught that having discarded its attachments to earthly possessions and desires, the soul enters the second leg of its journey forward. Here the results of its past deeds become vividly manifest and bad deeds now become a burden. This Chanta is taken to make this part of the journey easier.
(Seeking mercy in passing through 19 checkpoints) Pir Sadardin in the Granth "Vis Tol" explained the path that the soul has to take, after leaving the body, to arrive at its final destination. This path has 19 checkpoints where the soul could be detained or its further progress slowed down depending on its deeds in the past life. This Chanta is taken to ease this journey.
(Seeking mercy in passing through 52 narrow passages) Pir Sadardin taight in the Granth "Bawan Gati", that there are 52 passages which the soul has to navigate thr [edit] References
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