Ashtha prakari Puja

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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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, p<c£êp krl Aave.. hae. 1
My soul, a kalash made of knowledge, I fill, with the water of equanimity And as I bathe the Arihant, My karmās are washed away.
Water symbolizes the ocean. Every living being continuously travels through Life Ocean of birth, life, death, and misery. This puja reminds that one should live the life with honesty, truthfulness, love and compassion towards all living beings. This way one will be able to cross the Life Ocean and attain Moksha or liberation. The path of liberation is Samyak Darshan, Samyak Jnan and Samyak Charitra in Jain religion.
2. Chandan Puja: (Sandal-wood)
zltl gu( jehma< rýae, zltl à-u muor<g. AaTm ziti krva -[1. pUjae Airha A<g.
1
He whose face beams of the tranquility within The one whose very nature is tranquil To that Arihant I worship My soul, to make tranquil
Chandan symbolizes Knowledge (Jnan). During this puja one should reflect on Right Knowledge. Right knowledge means proper understanding of reality which includes Soul, Karma, and their relationship Jainism believes that the Path of Knowledge is the main path to attain liberation. Bhakti or Devotion helps in the early stages of one's effort for liberation.
3. Pushpa Puja: (Flower)
suri- Ao<f k...sum chl, pUjae gt s<tap. sumj<tu -Vy j pre, kriye smikt Dap. 1
Perfumed, a flower in full bloom I hold; For this puja, which destroys the misery of birth. Just as a bee hovers around the flower;