Short answer: In Jain practice, purification is done through the standard eight offerings (ashta dravya), of which incense (dhoop) is one. Burning bay leaves specifically is not a traditional Jain purification method.

What Jainism teaches here (in simple terms)

• The common purification ritual uses eight items: jal (water), chandan (sandalwood), pushpa (flowers), dhup (incense), deepak (lamp), akshat (rice), naivedya (sweet/food), and phal (fruit). These are symbolic aids to cultivate inner purity and right conduct. Bay leaves are not listed among these standard items. You can read more about the eight offerings here and in related JainPuja explanations. ( jainknowledge.com)

• The purpose of dhoop is to purify the atmosphere and remind us to keep our thoughts and actions aligned with ahimsa and other virtues. It is the traditional form of incense used in worship, not improvised plant-burning. You can see how dhoop is described in Jain ritual contexts here. ( jainknowledge.com)

• There are differences in practice between Digambar and Shvetambar communities on ritual details, but both emphasize inner purification and reverence using the conventional ashta dravya framework. For context on how dhoop, lamp, and other items fit into Jain worship, see the discussion on the ritual offerings. ( jainknowledge.com)

Bottom line

• Do not replace the traditional ashta dravya with bay leaves for purification. If you want to purify or purify your space in a Jain way, stick to the eight standard items, especially using dhup (incense) as taught in Jain rituals, and keep the practice aligned with ahimsa and inner bhava.

If you’d like, I can point to a specific ritual moment (Digambar vs. Shvetambar nuance) from Jain sources.