Jin Puja Hetu Sat Shuddhiya - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jin Puja Hetu Sat Shuddhiya" by Ajaysagar, based on the provided page:

The text "Jin Puja Hetu Sat Shuddhiya" (Seven Purities for the Worship of the Jina) by Ajaysagar outlines seven essential purities required for performing worship (Puja) to the Jina, the liberated souls in Jainism. These purities are crucial for a sincere and effective spiritual practice.

The seven purities are:

Ang Shuddhi (Purity of the Body): This emphasizes the physical cleanliness of the body. It advises against bathing in natural water bodies like ponds or wells, or directly under a tap, as these methods can lead to the harm of many living beings (Jiv Himsa). Instead, one should bathe using filtered water collected in a bucket. This is presented as the first and foundational purity.
Vastra Shuddhi (Purity of Clothing): The garments worn for worship must be pure and suitable. They should be cleansed with aromatic incense. The text specifies that the clothes should be clean, beautiful, without tears or stitching, and free from any bodily excretions (like urine or feces). Regular washing is necessary because sweat and other bodily impurities can render the clothes impure and lead to disrespect (Ashatana) towards the divine.
Man Shuddhi (Purity of the Mind): This highlights the importance of mental control. The text states that one who can control their mind can achieve control over everything. A joyful and unadulterated state of mind is considered essential for uninterrupted worship. True mental purity involves dedicating oneself to the Lord with simple and honest intentions, free from desires, worldly afflictions, and hidden motives.
Bhumi Shuddhi (Purity of the Land/Site): For a temple or worship space, the land should be chosen with specific auspicious qualities. It should be acquired willingly and with the pleasure of the giver. The foundation of the temple should be dug deep to remove any impure substances like bones or remnants of deceased beings buried beneath the earth. The temple premises must be kept clean to enhance the joy and devotion during worship.
Puja Upakaran Shuddhi (Purity of Worship Utensils): The use of pure and high-quality materials for worship enhances spiritual feelings and the radiance of the temple and the idol. The analogy is given that eating from a gold plate provides a different level of joy compared to eating from steel or brass plates, suggesting that the quality of the implements contributes to the overall experience and devotion.
Dravya Shuddhi (Purity of Wealth/Offerings): The wealth used for the service and worship of the Lord must be earned through righteous and just means. Even a small amount of wealth earned ethically, when offered in worship, is said to bring increase and yield auspicious results.
Vidhi Shuddhi (Purity of Method/Ritual): This emphasizes the importance of performing worship according to prescribed scriptural methods. Just as following the correct procedure makes cooking more beautiful and delicious, performing worship of the divine beings in a prescribed manner leads to superior results and spiritual experiences. Worship and temple salutation (Chaityavandan) should be performed with pure intentions and in accordance with scriptural guidelines, engaging the body, speech, and mind.

The text concludes with an incomplete thought about seeking the Lord exclusively and the challenges of worldly entanglements, hinting at the ultimate purpose of such pure worship.