YJA Convention 1996 07 San Francisco CA

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 22

PREPARATION OF ASHTAPRAKARI PUJA
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Physical purity: One should take a bath with just sufficient water to clean our body.
Purity of clothes: We should have a special set of clothes worn only for puja. The clothing should never have been worn while using the rest room and never have been worn while eating or drinking. Traditionally, garments should be generally white and unstitched. Men should only use a dhoti. In contemporary times, women can wear almost anything as long as the clothes are new. Men, generally, wear Kurta and a white Pajama.
Purity of mind: While worshipping avoid stray thoughts. We should utter relevant verses and should also meditate virtues of the Lord.
Purity of Ground: We should sweep the floor of the temple, clean and arrange the articles of worship
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Purity of Upakaran (articles used in worship): We should buy good and clean articles for worship
Purity of money: Money to be used in religious purposes must be earned honestly. Ill-gotten wealth should not be used
Purity of Ceremony: We should stop thinking of worldly affairs as soon as we are on our way to the temple. We should not carry out any worldly business once we have started the puja. Perform the ceremony systematically. This brings in good merit.