Purity to be Observed for Performing Puja
 

By Mr. R. P. Jain

The purity of the surroundings inevitably affects one’s purity of thought. Purity of the Jinpuja ceremony is integral to the proper completion of Jinpuja.

Physical purity: The aspirant should take a bath using the necessary amount of water to clean his/her body. For Digambar Puja: After wearing Puja clothes, take Kesar (saffron paste) on your right ring finger and place it on various parts of the body to symbolize that you are clean and ready to start the Pujä. In this order, you anoint the forehead, left and right earlobe, the neck, and near the belly button. Clean your fingers after this and do not use the same Kesar for Puja.

* 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 are recommended to wear dhoti and khesh. In contemporary times, women can wear almost anything as long as the clothes are new. For Digambar Puja: the clothes must be handwashed clean. One must not have eaten or gone to the bathroom in those clothes.
* Purity of mind: While worshipping avoid stray thoughts. We should utter relevant verses and meditate on the virtues of the Bhagwan.
* Purity of Ground: We should sweep the floor of the temple, clean and arrange the articles of worship.
* Purity of Upakaran (items used in worship): We should buy good and clean items 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 in the temple area and shuld perform the Puja ceremony systematically.

-----------------------------------------------------

Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
R080212