Jaina Puja

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Vira Office Bijnor

Page 11

THE JAINA PUJA.
The following articles are used in the Jaina Puja :
1. Sterilised water (i.e., boiled water), 2. Sandal-wood or saffron paste, or merely dry saffron, 3. Rice, 4. Flowers (coloured rice, dyed with saffron or sandal
wood paste), 5. Sweets (square cocoanut pieces), 6. Camphor for Light, 7. Incense, and
8. Fruits (e.g., almonds). The combination of all the eight articles is called arghya. Of these, rice and cocoanut bits and almonds are to be washed and then all the artirles are to be placed in a plate side by side, excepting water which is to be kept in a small pot separately. There should be provided a bowl for the pouring of water, another for the burning of incense, and a receptacle for lighting camphor.
Now take another plate and draw the mark of a &WASTIKA in its centre, with red powder, and as you recite the ' first verse of the Puja recitation, place three heaps of rice over the Swastika to represent the three objects of worship, namely, the DEVA, SHASTRA, and the GURU.
At the conclusion of the Mantras offer appropriate articles, placing them at the foot of the Swastika in the plate.
The Arghya is to be offered at the proper time by mixing all the articles, except camphor. At the conclusion of the Puju: offer up whatever is lett of the eight articles as a maha-arghya. Then recite the
Shanti and Visarjana Pathas and conclude the ceremony with the recital of the Namokara Mantram.