Jinalay Me Dhyan Rakhne Yogya Suchnaye

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Jinalay me Dhyan Rakhne Yogya Suchnaye" by Ajaysagar, focusing on the provided pages:

This document, "Jinalay me Dhyan Rakhne Yogya Suchnaye" (Information to Keep in Mind While in the Jain Temple), by Ajaysagar, outlines essential guidelines for devotees to follow during worship and their presence in a Jain temple (Jinalay). The emphasis is on maintaining sanctity, respect, and proper conduct.

Key Guidelines for Worship and Temple Etiquette:

1. Purity and Respect in the Sanctum (Garbhagriha):

• Mukhkosh (Mouth Cloth): Men must use an eight-layered cotton mukhkosh made of a dupatta (scarf) when performing puja. A handkerchief is not acceptable. Entry into the sanctum is prohibited without wearing this mukhkosh.
• Speech: Conversations in the sanctum should be conducted mentally, not in a loud voice.
• Hands: Hands used for puja should be washed and purified with incense (dhoop) before touching the deity or anything inside the sanctum. Avoid touching the threshold of the sanctum, your body, or clothes during puja.

2. Personal Appearance and Accessories:

• Watches: Wearing a watch during puja is inappropriate.
• Jewelry: It is encouraged to wear rings on fingers and other ornaments on the body.

3. Handling the Idol (Prabhuji):

• Lifting: The Panchadhatu (alloy of five metals) idols should be lifted with both hands, with reverence, and placed in the puja thali, rather than holding them with one hand.
• Washing: Milk offerings (pakshal) should be poured only over the deity's head (mastak shikha). It is not to be performed on each limb as in "Navangi Puja" (worship of nine limbs).
• Cleaning Cloths: Cloths used to wipe the deity should be soft and clean. These, along with items like peacock feather whisks (mor pichhi) and puja platforms (pat lucche), should be kept separate and not used for other deities or purposes.

4. Order of Worship:

• The puja should be performed in a specific sequence: first, the main deity (Moolnayakji), then other principal deities, the Siddha-chakra diagram, the Guru's image (Gurumurti), and finally, a single tilak with the right thumb on the foreheads of other deities.

5. Nails and Tilak:

• Nails: Care must be taken to ensure nails do not touch the deity, get stained with saffron (kesar), or retain any saffron after the puja.
• Tilak: A single tilak can be applied to the deity's right thumb by the entire congregation (sakal sangh).
• Decorations: Puja is generally restricted to the designated nine parts of the deity. Worship of animals like elephants, horses, or tigers depicted on the deity's palms, emblems, or halos is not permitted.

6. Touching the Idol:

• Only the fingers or palms designated for puja should touch the deity. No other body part or puja attire should come into contact with the idol. Placing or resting one's head on the deity's lap is prohibited.

7. Specific Deity Worship (Parshvanath Bhagwan):

• The hood of Parshvanath Bhagwan is not considered one of the nine sacred parts. Therefore, worshipping the hood is not mandatory. However, if desired, it can be worshipped using the ring finger.

8. Offerings:

• Flowers: Only fresh, fragrant, unbroken flowers that have not fallen on the ground should be offered. Flower leaves should not be separated, and flowers should not be washed with water.
• Astavangal (Eight Auspicious Symbols): The platform for Ashtamangal (patali) should be drawn like a Swastika in front of the deity as a sacred symbol.
• Akshat Puja (Rice Puja): In akshat puja, a heap of rice representing the Siddhashila (enlightenment peak) should be made first, followed by heaps representing Darshan (faith), Gyan (knowledge), and Charitra (conduct), and finally a Swastika heap. When rearranging (alamban), the Swastika should be made first and the Siddhashila last.
• Naivedya (Offerings): Offerings like peppermint, chocolate, commercial sweets, or forbidden items are inappropriate for Naivedya.

9. Other Prohibitions:

• Touching the Deity: Apart from the specific "Vilepan Angi" (anointing) and "Nav Ang" pujas, one should not repeatedly touch the deity out of personal emotion. Emotional outbursts, such as resting one's head on the deity's lap, are to be avoided.
• Bodily Discomfort: During puja, one should refrain from scratching, sneezing, coughing, yawning, or showing laziness. If such an urge arises, it is advisable to step outside the inner sanctum or the assembly hall.
• Clothing:
  • Attire worn for sadhana (spiritual practice) or puja should not have stitched borders. Clothes with fringes or tassels are considered energy-enhancing.
  • Women should not wear men's attire for puja. Men should wear two unstitched garments, and women should wear three unstitched garments for puja.
  • Eating or drinking while wearing puja attire is not permitted.
  • Performing Samayika (meditation) or Pratikraman (repentance rituals) while wearing puja attire is not allowed.
  • Puja attire should not be used to wipe hands, feet, face, or any other body part.

The final line, "अभयदान देने वाले मेभय स्वयं भयभीत रहता है" (One who gives fearlessness himself remains fearful), seems to be a concluding philosophical statement, perhaps implying that even in the act of offering devotion, one should strive for inner peace and freedom from anxieties.

In essence, the document guides devotees to approach the Jinalay and the worship of the Tirthankaras with utmost purity, respect, adherence to established rituals, and a calm, focused mind, ensuring the sanctity of the divine space is maintained.