Jin puja

Author(s): Harendra Shah
Publisher: USA Jain Center Northern Calfornia

Page 13

Jin Pujä
3. Flower: This flower is very soft; it has no crookedness or deceitfulness, I accept that there is
no straight forwardness in my own self, My thinking, expression and action - all are different from each other, I, therefore, implore you to grant me stability that washes off inner impurities. I offer to you this flower to achieve supreme straightforwardness in my nature.
4. Incense: I have entertained the false belief that inanimate karmas are the cause of my
wanderings in the four phases of life, As such I indulge in attachment and aversion, when these karmas behave in themselves, Thus, I have been passing through material as well as psychic karmas for centuries, I have come to thee, oh trio, to burn external incense for achieving the sweet spiritual incense of my own-self. I offer to you this incense to destroy the antagonistic inclinations of my existence.
5. Lamp: I was under the impression that my life will be illuminated with this inanimate lamp,
Which changes into deep darkness just in a heavy tempest of wind, I have, therefore, come to place this mortal light at your feet, And to light my own inner-lamp with your supreme light of omniscience. I offer to you this lamp in order to destroy the darkness of my inner self.
6. Rice: I am pure and without any blemish, having no connection with the non-self, Even then
I always take pride in favorable associations of this world. This is a homage of the sentient to the non-sentient elements, destroying our modesty, I have come to you, oh supreme trio, for the realization of my supreme bliss. I offer to you this unbroken rice to achieve the nondestructible treasure of joy.
7. Sweets: My hunger has remained insatiate even after consuming countless inanimate articles,
The pit of greediness has been filled time and again, but it has remained empty, I have been moving in the sea of desires and sinking therein from times immemorial, Renouncing all pleasures of senses and mind, I have come to thee for drinking deep of the intrinsic nectar of the soul. I offer to you these sweets in order to win victory over my passion of greed.
8. Fruit: Whatever material entities I call my own, leave me all of a sudden, I, thus, become
perturbed and this mental disorderliness leads to others of the same kind, I want to see my delusions dashed to pieces, and that is the purpose of my prayer to thee, I offer to you this fruit to obtain the fruit of supreme bliss.
Mass of all the Eight Substances: I wash off all imperfections of wrong belief after drinking deep of my own sentient nectar, Thus I destroy all passionate feelings and enjoy that sentient drink of my own-self, Matchless bliss is then born and sun of omniscience rises with all its glory, Sentient Perception and Vitality then appear in their fullness, which is the state of the Arihants", Offering you this combination, I collect all the great attributes of my soul, I am confident that I shall now achieve the glories of the supreme omniscient being I offer to you this mass of eight substances in order to achieve everlasting happiness of the soul.
Visharjan: The Closing: If I, knowingly or unknowingly committed any mistakes, By Grace of God, may they be pardoned. I do not know how to invite you, how to respect you and praise you, Please forgive me. I do not know any mantras; I am poor and have no knowledge.
10 The term Arihant is made up of Ari, meaning enemies, and hant, meaning destroyer. Consequently, Arihant means destroyer of all internal enemies such as anger, greed, ego, and deceit. Essentially, the meaning of Arihant, Jina and Thirthankar is the same Compiled by Harendra Shah
6/20/02