Ashtha prakari Puja

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/200023/1

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Ashta-prakäri Puja
Jain Puja symbolizes various aspects of our religion. One should reflect on such aspect while performing the puja rituals. There are different types of puja being performed for various religious and social ceremonies. The following eight types of materials is generally used for puja.
1. Jala Puja: (Water) }an klz -rl Aatma, smta rs -rpUr. il ijnne nvravta<, kmR haeye ckcUr. 1
jl puja jugte krae, mel Anaid ivnaz. jl pUja )I muj haejae, magae @m à-u pas. 1
meé izor nvrave hae surpit, meé izor nvrave; jNm kal ijnvrjl kae ja[l, pPage #2

To be around you always,
I ask that samkit* be imprinted upon me.
*Samkit = Right faith
Flower symbolizes conduct. Our conduct should be like a flower, which provides fragrance and beauty to all living beings without discrimination. We should live our life like flowers with full of love and compassion towards all living beings.
4. Dhup Puja: (Incense)
Xyan "qa àgqavlye, vam nyn ijn xUp.
imCDt ÊgRNx Ër qle, àgqe AaTm Svép. 1
Ame xUpnl puja krl@ re, Aae mn£maNya maehnjl; Ame xUp£"qa Anusrl@ re, Aae mn£maNya maehnjl; nhl-kae# tmarl taele re, Aae mn£maNya maehnjl; à-u Ao haey )aek.
-av àdlp àgq +@, -aist laeka£laek. 1
Like a lamp, help us distinguish between good and bad
To avoid sorrow in this world
And one day, my internal lamp of knowledge will
Illuminate the entire universe.
The flame of Deepak represents a Pure Consciousness or a Soul without any bondage or a Liberated Soul. In Jainism such a Soul is called Siddha or God. The ultimate goal of every living being is to become liberated from karma. By doing this puja one should thrive to follow Five great Vows: Non-violence, Truthfulness, Non-stealing, Chastity and Non-possession. Ultimately these proper conducts coupled with right faith and knowledge will lead to liberation.
6. Akshat Puja: (Rice)
zuÏ AoPage #3
In the presence of my lord, I wish all my worldliness Will postpone indefinitely The household rice is the kind of grain seeds, which are non-fertile. One cannot grow rice plants by seeding the household rice. Symbolically it means that rice is the last birth. By doing this puja one should thrive to put all the efforts in the life in such a way that this life becomes one's last life and after the end of this life one will be liberated and will not be reborn again. 7. Naivedya Puja: (Tasty Food) A[aharl pd me< kyaj, ivGgh g#y AnNt. Er krl te dlijye, A[aharl izv sNt. 1 Many a times I have gone hungry And traveled through many lives O Pure One! Without a trace of desire, Do satiate me eternally Naivedya symbolizes a tasty food. By doing this puja, one should thrive to reduce or eliminate the attachment to tasty food. Healthy food is essential for survival, however one should not live for to eat a tasty food. Ultimate aim in one's life is to attain a life where no food is essential for our existence and that is the life of a liberated Soul, who lives in Moksha forever in ultimate bliss. 8. Fal Puja: (Fruit) #NOaidk pUja -[1, )I lave xrl rag. pue;aeAm pUji krl, mage izvPS)i Tyag. 1 Just as Indra and other devs Out of their extreme love for you, I bring along 'fruits' to worship. Upon meeting you, O Supreme soul, I renounce worldly aspirations And desire only Moksha As the fruit of all my actions Fruit symbolizes Moksha or Liberation. If we live our life without any attachment to worldly affair, continue to perform our duty without any expectation and reward, be witnessed to all the incidents that occurred surrounding to and within us, truly follow ascetic life, and have a love and compassion to all living beings, we will attain the fruit of Moksha or liberation. This is the last Puja symbolizing the ultimate achievement of our life.