$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

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

Page 225

RITUALS
D03 - Going to the Temple (Shvetämbar & Digambar Tradition)
4. Pushpa Pujä: In this pujä, flower or saffron colored rice is offered. Flower symbolizes passion and sensual pleasure. offering the flower means abandoning all passions, which are the root cause for the accumulation of Karma (Käma_väsanä Vinäshanaya). 5. Naivedya Pujä: Naivedya symbolizes tasty food. In this puja, small white pieces of coconut representing tasty food are offered. It signifies the desire of the person doing puja to be able to reduce or eliminate desire of food (Kshudhä rog Vinäshanaya). The ultimate aim of one's life is to avoid the need for any food at all by attaining nirvana. 6. Deepak Pujä: In this pujä, lamp (diyä or deepak) is offered to destroy the darkness of ignorance and false beliefs (Mohändhakär Vinäshanaya). Most of the time saffron colored pieces of coconuts are used to represent lamp. 7. Dhoop Puja: In this pujä, cloves or sandalwood dust representing Dhoop is offered to destroy all the eight Karma (Ashtakarma Vinäshanaya). 8. Fal Pujä: In this pujä, shelled almonds or coconut representing fruits are offered. Fruit symbolizes nirvana or Moksha, which is the ultimate goal of every living beings in the universe (Moksha Phal Präptaye). Arghya Pujä Arghya puja is performed at the end of the Pujä with the mixture of all eight pujä substances (dravyas) for attaining everlasting Siddha-pada (Anarghya Pad Präptaye). It is also called Ashikä puja. The Ashikä is a small plate with a holder that is used to place the cloves or Pushpa (yellow rice) during invocation. Nine full cloves or nine unbroken rice grains are taken in the left palm. Each time the Mantra for Sthapana. Ahawanan, and Sannidhikaran are chanted, three Pushpa or cloves, with the head pointing forward are held between the right ring finger and the thumb and are placed
on the Ashikä. 5. Jayamala (Adoration)
In this ritual, one recites the virtues of the Tirthankar Bhagawan. In Jayamala, the garland of victory, one repeats the names of all twenty-four Tirthankar, sits in silence for a few moments, and then chants the Namaskär litany. While reciting his virtues, one is also reminded that our soul possesses
similar virtues and is capable of attaining Moksha by getting rid of Karma. 6. Shanti Path
Essentially wishing peace and happiness for all the living being by reciting peace prayer (Shanti
Path). 7. Visarjan
This ritual concludes the puja. Here one prays to all of the celestials beings present during the puja to return to their respective places and asking for their forgiveness for any mistakes or negligence
committed during the Pujä. 8. Ärti
Ärti of Pancha Paramesthi or Tirthankar is recited with waving of lamp to end the pujä. Following the Arti, one reads scripture (Swadhyay) and does meditation. Swadhyay is also built into the Pujä; carefully reciting the Pujä can lead to better understanding of the concepts of Jain
philosophy. Although Pujäs are usually directed to Tirthankars, regular worshiping of the Jain scriptures (Dev Shastra Guru Samuchchaya Pujä) is also part of the daily pujä. Also certain types of Pujäs are associated with special occasion or festivals, which helps to strengthen our belief in our religion. Compendium of Jainism - 2015
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