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GOING TO THE TEMPLE - SHVETÄMBAR TRADITION The first and second worships together make Ashta-prakäri Pujä (eightfold worship). Collectively these two Pujäs are called Dravyapuja (physical worship).
Ashta Prakäri Pujä (eightfold worship)
The Ashta-prakäri Puja is done by offering eight different types of substances during worship. Internal devotional worship is reflected within. Jain Pujä symbolizes various aspects of our religion. One should reflect on such aspects while performing the Pujä rituals. There are different types of Pujä being performed for various religious and social ceremonies. The following eight materials are used in performing Pujä.
1. Jal (Water) Pujä:
By bathing the idol in the right manner we ask; may the impurities of our Karmas wash away from our soul. Let us bathe the idol of Arihanta with water in the form of equanimity from the Kalash in the form of knowledge; so that our karmas get destroyed.
My soul, a Kalash made of knowledge, I fill, with the water of equanimity. And as / bathe the Arihanta, My karmas are washed away.
2. Chandan (Sandal-wood) Puja:
To achieve the tranquility (coolness) in our soul we worship the idol of Arihanta with the sandalwood paste because tranquility resides in Arihanta and his face is also tranquil.
He whose face beams of the tranquility within The one whose very nature is tranquil To that Arihanta / worship To make my soul tranquil.
3. Pushpa (Flower) Pujä:
We should live our life like flowers full of love and compassion towards all living beings. By offering fragrant and unbroken flowers to Arihanta we reflect upon to live our life like flower.
Perfumed, a flower in full bloom I hold; For this Pujä, which destroys the misery of birth. Just as a bee hovers around the flower; To be around you always, I ask that Samyaktva be imprinted upon me.
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JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I
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