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Jin Pujä
Janm-maranädi savi bhay tale, sijhe jo darshan käj, Ratna-trayi präpti bhani, darshan karo jin räj, Jnän vadu samsaär mä, jnän-param such hetu, Jnän vinä jagjivadä, na lahe tatva sanket.
While doing third Pradakshinä, we should recite the following:
Chay te sanchay karmno, rikta kare vali jeh, Chäritra näm niryukte kahyu, vando te gunegeh, Jnän darshan chäritra e, ratnatrayi nirdhär, Tran Pradakshanä te kärane, bhavdhukh bhanjanjär.
If you do not remember the above then, we should recite hymns of an auspicious prayer like some hymns from the Ratnäkar Pachchisi or from Bhaktamar Stotra with full devotion while doing Pradakhanä. While performing Pradakshinä, we should bow our head with folded hands whenever we see the Parmätmä.
2.3. Chandan Preparation
After three Pradakshinä, we go the corner which is dedicated for Chandan preparation. Here we cover our mouth with Pujä-Rumäl and prepare the chandan for pujä. There is no need to use saffron. After, preparing the Chandan for pujä, we clean the area
2.4. Tilak (Ägnächakra)
Now, while seating in Padmäsän, we put a Tilak (vertical flame like) on the forehead. This means that we are obeying the commands of Tirthankar (His teachings) for liberation of our soul. Round Tilak is not recommended. After putting Tilak, the aspirant with folded hands should say "Namo Jinänam" as if the Parmätmä is in the front of him/her.
2.5. Bell ringing
As we get closer to the Ghabhärä, we ring the bell three times to symbolize that I will stay away from the activities of the material world and will become engrossed in Jin Pujä by my body, speech and mind.
The bell is rang second time when 'Abhishek Pujä' is about to start.
Third time we ring the bell after the completion of Jin Pujä and befor we start the Bhäv Puja (Chatya-vandan). This time we ring the bell twenty seven times to symbolize twenty seven special characteristics of a Jain monk. Because, the ownership of Bhäv pujä (Chaityavandan) belongs to Jain monks. Now, we are going to become a Jain monk while performing Chaitya-vandan. Therefore, to respect and praise the special twenty seven characteristics of Jain monk, we ring the bell twenty seven times.
Compiled by Harendra Shah
6/20/02
