Jainism For Beginners Level 01

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

Page 37

Examples of special Pujas are : Snatra Puja, Pancha Kalyanak
Puja, Siddha-Chakra Pujan & Antaraya Karma Puja, etc.
violence to one-sense living beings. Hence, Jain ascetics (Sadhus and Sadhvis) do not perform any Dravya puja. They fully practice all the five great vows. They live totally in nonviolent manner and do not possess any material items that they can use in puja”. They engage in spiritual reflection and only do Bhav Puja.
ashta prakari
The first three pujas are called "Anga Puja” | They are done by Oblating (Abhisheka) the idol and offering Chandan (sandalwood paste, and Pushpa (flowers). In these pujas, the devotee physically touches the idol. Hence the devotee is required to cover the mouth first and then touch the idol for puja.
The Dravya puja is meant for laypeople. Commonly, lay people spend most of their time in fulfillment of social obligations, personal enjoyment, accumulation of wealth and power, and gaining better social status. Pujas and other temple related rituals help lay people to move from their routine social life to a spiritual life.
The remaining five pujas are known as "Agra Puja". They are done in front of the idols using Dhoop (incense), Deepak (lamp). Akshat (rice), Naivedya (sweets), and Fal (fruits). The idol is not touched in these pujas, so there is no need to cover the mouth.
In the initial stage of spiritual development a person needs idol to pray, and offering of puja materials. Hence minimum violence to one-sensed living being is accepted for the lay people for their spiritual progress. However, one should use proper wisdom to limit the quantity and usage of flowers, water, fire (Deepak, Dhoop), fruits, and sweets in puja rituals and also in daily life to minimize the violence to onesensed living beings.
"Bhav pooja” is doing chaityavandan, singing song etc.
puja materials The materials (i.e., flowers, water, lamp, Ifruits) used in puja involve some JIN DARSHAN
With regards to offering flowers, it is suggested that a clean sheet be laid under the (flower) plant the night before and only naturally fallen flowers be used in puja offering. This method minimizes the