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Pujä Materials
The materials (i.e., flowers, water, lamp, fruits) used in pujä involve some violence to one-sense living beings. Hence, Jain ascetics (Sädhus and Sädhvis) do not perform any Dravya pujä. They fully practice all five great vows. They live totally nonviolent lives and do not possess any material items that they can use in pujä. They engage in spiritual reflection and only do Bhäva Pujä.
The Dravya pujä is meant for laypeople. Commonly, laypeople spend most of their time in fulfillment of social obligations, personal enjoyment, accumulation of wealth and power, and gaining better social status. Pujäs and other temple related rituals help laypeople to move from their routine social life to a spiritual life.
In the initial stage of spiritual development a person needs religious symbols such as a Tirthankar idol to pray, and offering of pujä materials. Hence minimum violence to one-sensed living being is accepted for the laypeople for their spiritual progress. However, one should use proper wisdom to limit the quantity and usage of flowers, water, fire (Deepak, Dhoop), fruits, and sweets in pujä rituals and also in daily life to minimize the violence to one-sensed living beings.
With regards to offering flowers, it is suggested that a clean sheet be laid under the (flower) plant the night before and only naturally fallen flowers be used in pujä offering. This method minimizes the violence and limits the quantity of flowers used in pujä.
If the production of the pujä materials involves violence to mobile living beings (two to fivesensed living beings), then Jain scriptures prohibit all use of such materials even by Jain laypeople. Jainism is a rational religion. The scriptures provide the fundamental principles of truth. The implementation of such principles varies with respect to time, place, and circumstances. We need to evaluate our past tradition based on the current environment in which we live.
Jain Education International
JAIN ACTIVITY BOOK 96
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