$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 35

GOING TO THE TEMPLE - SHVETÄMBAR TRADITION 4. Dhoop (Incense) Pujä:
By placing incense (Dhoop) on the left side of the idol, we initiate the upward meditation to destroy the bad odor of Mithyätva (false faith) and manifest our pure soul.
Meditation illuminates the dense darkness, Just as I offer the incense before the beautiful eyes of the Jin; Driving away the bad smell of wrong faith, The innate nature of the soul emerges
5. Deepak (Lamp) Pujä:
The flame of a lamp (Deepak) represents a Pure Consciousness, or a Soul without any bondage, or a Liberated Soul. When we light the lamp in the right manner, our miseries get destroyed. As a result, we get the knowledge in the form of Kevaljnän, which illuminates the whole universe.
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
6. Akshat (Rice) Pujä:
Household rice is the kind of grain seeds which are non-fertile. One cannot grow rice plants by seeding household rice. Symbolically it means that rice is the last birth. By doing this Pujä, one should thrive to put all the efforts in 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 not born again. By offering pure and unbroken rice grains in the form of Nandävarta, we meditate in front of Arihanta, keeping all our worldly attachments away.
Pure unbroken Akshat I hold And draw this large Nandävarta In the presence of my lord, I wish all my worldliness Will postpone indefinitely
7. Naivedya (Sweet) Pujä:
In the course of the cycle of birth and death, I have remained hungry many times but that was transitory. O! Arihanta! give me the permanent state where there is no desire of food. The ultimate aim in one's life is to attain a life where no food is essential for our existence. That is the life of a liberated Soul who lives in Moksha forever in ultimate bliss.
Many a times I have gone hungry O Pure One! Without a trace of desire, Do satiate me eternally.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I