Jina Poojan

Author(s): Oshwal Associations of The UK
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

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7. Throat - With your soothing and sweet speech, you touched so many lives and helped them realize their own selves. Let my speech work for the good of others.
8. Heart - Vitrag Bhagwan's heart was full of amity, compassion, and mercy. Likewise, let my heart be full of these feelings.
9. Navel - The navel is the center for concentration of the mind during meditation. I wish to attain the highest form of meditation to realize the self, as you did. Let me have that power by worshipping this navel of yours.
To achieve the tranquility (coolness) in our soul, we worship the idol of Arihant with the sandalwood because tranquility resides in Arihant and his face is also tranquil. Chandan symbolizes knowledge (gnana). By doing this Jinpujä, one should thrive for right knowl
edge. It also applies for coolness. Coolness of heart, mind and feelings can be achieved. 3. Pushpa Pujä: (Flower): The flower symbolizes conduct. Our conduct should be full of love and
compassion towards all living beings, like flower provides fragrance and beauty, without any discrimination. We should live our life like flowers with full love and compassion towards all living beings. By offering fragrant and unbroken flower to Arihant, whose miseries have been destroyed,
we acquire the capability to go to Moksha, just like the flower. 4. Dhoop Pujä: (Incense): Dhoop symbolizes monkhood life. While burning itself, incense provides
fragrance to others. Similarly, true monks and nuns spend their entire life selflessly to benefit all living beings. This Jinpujäreminds that one should thrive for an ascetic life. By placing the incense (dhoop) on the left side of the idol, we initiate the upward meditation
to destroy the bad odor of Mithyatva (false faith) and manifest our pure soul. 5. Dipak Pujä: (Candle): The flame of Dipak represents a pure consciousness, i.e. a soul without
bondage of any karmas or a liberated soul. By doing this Jinpujäone should thrive to follow five great
Sädhu (Jain monk) or Sädhvi (Jain nun) is who practices five mahävratas (great vows), five samitis (carefulness) and three Guptis (restraints); has taken Dikshä (initiation) per either Digambar or Svetämbar tradition, 2. who practices Samatä (equanimity; treats the favorable and non-favorable situations indifferently.), 3. who follows and preaches the major path of liberation expounded by our Tirthankars, 4. emphasizes on the selfefforts and self-initiatives, 5. who firmly believes in and practices the anekäntväd, and 6. has given up pleasures of five senses, has no worldly attachments like assets, family, bank balance, house, car and similar things and has won over internal enemies like anger, ego, deceit and greed. They travel by bare feet, they do not use any transportation system, they do not take shower, they do not shave, they do not eat after sunset and more. Their only goal is to attain "Mokshä"The message of Jina, Bhagwan Mahavir, the last Tirthankar, is carried by the Ächäryas, the spiritual leaders. The responsibility of the spiritual well being of the entire Jain Sangh rests on the shoulders of the Achäryas. Before reaching that state, one has to do an in-depth study and gain mastery over the Ägams. In addition to acquiring a high level of spiritual excellence, they also have the ability to lead the
monastic communion. They should also know various languages of the country and have a sound knowledge of other philosophies, ideologies, and religions of the region and of the world. The title of Upadhyäya is given to those Sädhus who have acquired a special knowledge of the Agams (Jain scriptures) and philosophical systems Thev teach Jain scriptures to deserving aspirants, including Sädhus and sädhvis.