Jin Puja

This document, "Jin Puja" compiled by Harendra Shah and published by USA Jain Center Northern California, is a comprehensive guide to performing Jinpujä, the worship of Jinas (victorious beings who have attained liberation) within Jainism. The text emphasizes that there are multiple ways to perform Jinpujä and aims to provide a respectful overview.

Key Themes and Content:

• Purpose of Jainism and Rituals: The ultimate goal of Jainism is Moksha (salvation). Rites and rituals like Jinpujä are seen as important initial steps on this path, not for worldly gains but to pay respect to the Tirthankaras, draw inspiration from their liberated state, and foster inner peace by suppressing passions like anger, ego, deceit, and greed. These rituals should reinforce Jain principles, particularly Ahimsä (non-violence).

• The Role of Worshipping Places and Idols: Temples provide a conducive environment for spiritual practice, akin to a school for education. Pratimäjis (images or idols) with Prän Pratishthä (installation of life-force) are considered next best to having a Tirthankara present, serving as a focal point for spiritual grace and fellowship.

• Bhakti and Pujä: Devotion (Bhakti) and worship (Pujä) are integral to daily Jain life. Jinpujä encompasses nine types of Bhakti, including listening, singing, remembering, worshiping, bowing, adorning, seeking refuge, friendship, and self-dedication.

• Types of Pujä:

  • Saguna Pujä: Worship of the Jina in a form or image.
  • Nirguna Pujä: Worship of the Jina as a formless spiritual idea.
  • Saguna Pujä is often eight-fold (Ashtaprakäri) and involves physical offerings. This is necessary until a certain stage of spiritual development (7th Gunasthän).
  • Nirguna Pujä is for more spiritually advanced individuals.
  • Dravya Pujä: Worship with physical offerings (water, sandalwood, etc.).
  • Bhäv Pujä: Mental or emotional worship without physical offerings. A combination of both is encouraged.
  • Various specific Pujäs are mentioned, including Ashtaprakäri, Athär Abhishek, Panch Parmeshti, and Snätra Pujä.

• Engrossment in Jinpujä: To be fully engrossed, one needs concentration (Tadgat Chitt), proper timing, increasing devotion, admiration, delight, and appreciation of the Tirthankara's qualities. Regular practice with pure feelings can help remove various karmas and lead to liberation.

• Purity: The text stresses the importance of purity in various aspects:

  • Physical: Bathing and specific anointing rituals.
  • Clothes: Special, clean, often white and unstitched clothing.
  • Mind: Avoiding stray thoughts, meditating on virtues.
  • Ground: Cleaning the temple area.
  • Upakaran (Items): Using good and clean items.
  • Money: Earned honestly.
  • Ceremony: Systematically performing the rituals without worldly distractions.

• Temple Etiquette and Basic Steps:

  • Nisihi: Uttering the word thrice at different stages to signify renunciation of worldly activities.
  • Pranam: Various forms of bowing to show respect.
  • Pradakshinä: Circumambulating the deity three times, symbolizing the three jewels (Right Perception, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct). Specific verses are provided for each circumambulation.
  • Chandan Preparation: Preparing sandalwood paste with covered mouth.
  • Tilak: Applying a vertical tilak on the forehead.
  • Bell Ringing: The bell is rung at various points to signify detachment from the material world and focus on worship.
  • In the Gabhärä: Entering with reverence, observing symbols of attachment and aversion, and performing different types of Pujä (Ang Pujä, Agra Pujä, Bhäv Pujä).
  • Darpan: Looking into a mirror to see the reflection of the Parmätmä and contemplate non-attachment.
  • Chowri Dance: Swaying a whisk (Chämar) to express devotion.
  • Bhäv Puja: Includes Chaitya Vandan, Stavan, and Stuti.

• The Ten Triks (Groups of Three): These are specific guidelines for worship, including Nisihi, Pradakshinä, Pranäm, Pujä, Avasthä (contemplating stages of a Tirthankara's life), Disha (direction of gaze), Bhumi Pujan (cleaning the ground), Älamban (focusing on pronunciation, meaning, and the idol), Mudrä (specific hand gestures), and Pranidhan (concentration).

• Ashtaprakäri Jinpujä (Eight-Fold Worship) - Digambar Tradition: This section details the ritualistic offerings:

  1. Water (Jal): Symbolizing crossing the ocean of suffering through righteous living.
  2. Sandalwood (Chandan): Symbolizing the pursuit of right knowledge.
  3. Flowers (Pushpa): Symbolizing conduct full of love and compassion.
  4. Incense (Dhup): Symbolizing the selfless life of monks and nuns.
  5. Lamp (Dipak): Symbolizing pure consciousness and the five great vows.
  6. Rice (Akshat): Symbolizing the last birth and unbroken happiness, with the swastik representing the cycle of existence and the three dots and half-circle representing the path to liberation.
  7. Sweets (Naivedya): Symbolizing reducing attachment to tasty food.
  8. Fruit (Fal): Symbolizing Moksha or liberation. The Visharjan section describes a closing prayer for forgiveness of errors and a request for the deity's departure.

• Ärati, Mangal Divo, and Shänti Kalash:

  • Ärati: A ritual performed at the end of a religious activity, symbolizing spiritual joy and seeking an end to misery. The five lamps represent various principles, including the five great vows and the five supreme beings.
  • Mangal Divo: A single lamp symbolizing perfect knowledge (Keval Jnäna) and the path to Moksha, intended to enlighten the inner self.
  • Shänti Kalash: A ritual for inner and outer peace, involving chanting and pouring sacred substances, praying for the well-being of all living beings and the eradication of suffering.

• Contributions and References: The text acknowledges borrowing from other Jain publications.

• Michchha Mi Dukkadam: A concluding apology for any unintentional mistakes or hurt feelings.

In essence, "Jin Puja" is a comprehensive manual guiding practitioners through the devotional and ritualistic aspects of Jain worship, emphasizing the underlying spiritual principles of self-purification, detachment, and the ultimate goal of liberation.