________________
colours sanctified by monks in previous ceremonies, called raksha-potlis); flowers; beetle nuts; almonds; sugar crystals (säkar); cinnamon; cloves; cardamom; coconuts; rice; pieces of cloth; a red piece of cloth to use as a covering on the small table (paat); silver footprints of the first Tirthankara Rishabhadeva (symbolic footprints may be only two to three inches long); a small throne as a token (Simhasana); a canopy (Chhatra); whisks (Chämara); different types of sweets; various types of fruits and flowers. (Welcoming sign in the form of a long hanging piece made from Äsopälav leaves).
Ingredients/objects for the Snätra Poojä (this is common to all poojas).
A three tiered platform (trigadu) where a metal image of the Tirthankara is kept on the top tier; an idol of the Tirthankara; jars; pitchers; utensils; a mirror; dishes; bowls; a pot with eight auspicious signs inscribed on it (ashtamangala ghado), lamps for aarti and mangal-divo.
An area for pooja is cleared and washed with water and milk. A three-tiered platform (trigadu) with the Tirthankaras image on it is placed in the middle. It is assumed that the Tirthankara himself is present. A deepak (lamp) is placed at the front and then lighted after saying the appropriate lines in Sanskrit. A bronze pot is placed in the centre. A priest places the väskshepa powder inside the pot, draws a small swastika inside and puts silver coin on top of the swastika. A coloured thread (nädä-chhadi) is tied round the neck of the pot. The pot is now ready to be used for the ritual. It is then placed in the centre after reciting the proper Sanskrit verses. A mixture of five ingredients (milk, yoghurt, ghee, sugar-cane juice, and water. If the sugar-cane juice is not available, then sugar crystals can be used; these five, collectively called the panchamrit, is poured into the above pot.
Then a separate ritual of the Snätra Pooja is undertaken. The Snätra Pooja is a ritual of bathing and anointing the image of the Tirthankara. The Snätra Pooja is always carried out before the main Poojä begins. The Snätra Pooja takes about half an hour to forty-five minutes. This is a symbolic pooja, which reminds us that when the Tirthankara was born he was given a ceremonial bath by the celestial beings and a great joyous ceremony was performed.
Usually one or two devotional songs are sung after this.
Before starting the main Pooja, (be it a the Bhaktämara Poojan, a Uvasaggaharam Poojan or any other) a priest 'invites' the God of the winds/air, by way of chanting verses, to clean the area gently. Similarly the God of rain is invited to wash that area. After this a sprinkling of water mixed with saffron and sandalwood is done. This creates a sweet, fragrant atmosphere.
Then it is the turn of the priest and the others to be ready for the Pooja. The priest and the others think and assume whilst saying different mantras that they are cleansing themselves. Once this is done and 'Indestructible-cage-stotra' (Vajra-panjar-Stotra) is recited with the appropriate gestures.
For the main Pooja a large size picture of a tree is drawn on the floor. This is done by using different coloured grains (like moong, wheat, rice, urad, etc.) The tree is a symbol of the Räyan tree. The reason is the Tirthankara Rishabhadeva had attained
169
