ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 264

meditation i.e. pindastha, padastha, rūpastha and rūpātīta is also called bhāva-pūja?
Āśādhara in Sāgāra-dharmāmrta says that the devotees who worship the sermons (scriptures) of Jina in fact worship the Jina himself as there is no difference between Jina and his sermons. Dhavala says that worshipping a monk results in extinction of the sins committed. Upāskādhyayana indicates prastāvanā, purākarma, sannidhāpana, pūjā and the benefits of pūjā as types of pūjā. 10 Synonyms of pūjā are jājña, jajña, kratu, pūjā, saparyā, ijyā, adhvara and makha. Ācārya Somadeva had described two types of pūjā primarily namely daily (nitya) and event oriented (naimaittika).11 He says that the devotees and especially the learned ones who are familiar with the Jain metaphysics should be attentive while performing pūjā and not show any form of carelessness.
Types of Pūjās: Daily Worship This implies the worship performed daily by the devotee. Besides this, contributing daily towards establishment of a Jina idol, building a temple, popularizing the Jain religion, paying obeisance to the deities of all the three time periods, sāmāyika, paying obeisance at the feet of the holy ascetics and charity for religious cause are also indicated as different types of puja.
Event Oriented Worship: Pūjā performed by emperors, kings and cakravartis, is called Caturmukha pūjā. Worship performed during the holy eight days every 4 months is called Astāhnikā-pājā, worship performed by gods is called Indradhvaja-pājā and the worship performed during Daslaksana I Paryūṣaṇa is called Dasalakşaņa/ Paryūsaņa pūjā. Besides these worship performed during consecration of idols or temples, called pañcalkalyāṇakas and during fasts are also called event oriented pūjās. Tiloyapannatti describes the method of performing the pūjā with types of offerings. Special event oriented pūjās, like Aştāhnikā (for eight days), during festivals and
7 Upasakādhyayana, 35th Kalpa, verse 481-529 8 Sāgāra-dharmamta,s 2.44 9 Dhavala, 9.4 10 Upasakadhyayana 11 Ibid
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