Dev Shastra Guru Puja
Step by step description of Jain puja rituals
The Six Daily Essentials prescribed for a Jain Householders are:
· Dev Puja
· Guru Upsati
· Swadhyay
· Saiyam
· Tap
· Daan
Dev Puja is foremost of the essentials for Jains. Puja is usually done in the presence of an idol and with some offerings (Dravya Puja), or it can also be performed in the absence of an idol with no material offerings (Bhav Puja).Puja is usually performed in the temple before an idol of an Arihanta but it can also be performed at home with or without an idol.
Before visiting the temple, a person must take a bath and put on washed clothes, which are usually kept in the temple for this purpose. While going to the temple, utmost care should be observed that no living beings are harmed due to one’s carelessness. Before entering the temple one must wash hands and feet. When we enter the temple hall, we should ring the bells slowly so the Devas and people around acknowledge our presence.
As we enter the temple, we should chant:
· Nisshai, Nisshai, Nisshai
· Om Jai Jai Jai
· Namostu, Namostu,Namostu
We then recite the Namokar Mantra three times and bow before the idol. We then walk around the vedi (alter) in a clockwise direction three times. We then enter the Gabharo for Puja.
Puja consists of the following Rituals:
· Abhishek or Prakshal ( i.e.,Bathing the idol)
· Puja- Prarambh
· Main Puja
· Jaimala
· Shanti Path
· Visarjan
· Aarti
Abhishek:
Bathing the idol is called Abhishek and it is usually done with pure water. On certain occasions, people perform the Panchamrut Abhishek, which consists of five substances (Dravyas): Water, milk, curd, sandal water and ghee.
However, seeing the way in which milk is obtained these days, one should not use milk and its products in Puja.
The main purpose of Abhishek is to wash away any bad thoughts in our mind. It also serves the purpose of keeping the idol clean. The prayer usually done during this puja is :
Papacharan taj nabh karke chit me aise dahoon, sakchayat Sri Arihant ka maano nabhansparsan karron,
Which is given under Janamkalyanak in Puja books. It reminds us how Indra felt as he was bathing the new born Tirthankar .We pray to GOD to remove all evil thoughts , desires, passions and worldly attachments so that what remains of us will be pure self.
After bathing the idol is dried with clean clothes. At this time we recite the prayer”Prabhu Patit Pawan”.
Puja- Prarambh:
In this ritual we recite the Swasti Mangal Stotra
Main Puja:
The main puja is done with eight substances (Ashta dravya)
Jal Puja:
In this puja , pure water is offered to rid oneself of cycle of birth, aging and death (Janma, Jara, Mrityu Vinashnaya).Every living being continuously travels through the miseries of birth, life and death. The Jai reminds us to live our life as pure as water, this way one will be able to attain Moksha.
Chandan Puja:
In this puja sandal wood powder or saffron mixed in water is offered to subside the sufferings of the world ( Sansar taap vinashnaya).The very nature of chandan is to overcome our miseries through knowledge of our religion.
Akshat Puja:
In this puja, white washed rice without husk (called Akshat) is offered which symbolizes the end of the birth, life and death cycle (Akshay pad praptya) just as white rice cannot be re germinated.
Pushpa Puja:
In this puja, flower or saffron colored rice is offered.Flower symbolizes passion and sensual pleasure. Offering the flower means abandoning all passions which are the root cause for the accumulation of karmas (Kamvaan Vinashnaya). Saffron colored rice is used most of the time instead of picking flowers, which causes hinsa to plants and insects in them.
Naivedya Puja
Naivedya symbolizes tasty food. In this puja small white pieces of uncolored coconut representing tasty food are offered. It signifies the desire of the person doing Puja to be able to reduce or eliminate the desire of tasty food (Chuda Yog Vinasanaya). The ultimate aim of ones life is to avoid the need for any food at all by attaining Nirvan. Again to avoid the violence involved in the making of sweets , Digamber sect uses pieces of coconut.
Deepak Puja
In this puja, lamp (diya or Deepak) is offered to destroy the darkness of ignorance and false beliefs (Mohandhakar Vinashanaya). Most of the time saffron colored pieces of coconuts are used to represent lamp or Deepak because the flame of lamp causes hinsa to the living beings in the air.
Dhup Puja
In this puja,cloves or sandal dust representing dhup is offered to destroy all the eight karmas (Ashtakaram Vinashnaya)
Fal Puja
In this puja, shelled almonds or coconut representing fruits are offered. Fruit symbolizes Nirvan or Moksha, which is the ultimate goal of every living being in the universe (Moksh fal pratapya).Here again, whole almonds or coconut are used to minimize possible violence in offering fresh fruits.
Arghya Puja
A mixture of all eight puja substances (dravyas) is called Arghya.Arghya puja is performed when one does not have time to do full puja using eight dravya separately (Anargha Pad Praptaya)
Jayamala (Adoration)
In this ritual, one recites the virtues of the Tirthankar Bhagwan. While reciting his virtues, one is also reminded that our soul possesses similar virtues and is capable of attaining Mokshaby getting rid of Karmas (Siddha Swaroopo Hum;Atma so Parmatama)
Shanti Paath
Essentially wishing peace and happiness for all living beings by reciting peace prayer ( Shanti Paath ).
Visarjan
This ritual concludes the puja. In visarjan one prays to all of the celestial beings present during the puja to return to their respective places and asking for their forgiveness for any mistakes of negligence committed during the puja.
Aarti
Aarti of panch parmeshti or Tirthankar is recited to end the puja.
