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silver coin. During the puja, worshippers also enact certain rituals like waving flywhisks to serve the idol/Jina etc.
This is followed by Agra-puja. The worshipper takes a burning incense stick and waves it in front of the idol followed by waving a lamp in the same manner. These activities are performed while being inside the central shrine. Then the worshipper comes out of the shrine and sits in the central hall to perform the remaining pūjā. Using rice, s/he makes a svastika on the table followed by offering food and fruits on this svastika. This is followed by ringing a metal bell, waving the fan while dancing. And finally s/he uses a mirror to bring the idol (image of the idol) close to the heart of the devotee for seeking blessings. Throughout the above pūjās, there are hymns which the devotee keeps on reciting slowly to be one in mind, body and speech in devotion.
Throughout the morning the people continue to come and perform the bathing rites on older idols. They may also circumambulate the central idol thrice and ring the bell hanging in the central hall before performing the pūjā. As the morning progress more people come, dressed in ordinary work clothes and before going to their work place and content only in bowing before the idols and take a darśana/look.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
