Is pooja allowed at home in evening with argh and in the evening on nirvan day
Yes, you can perform pooja at home in the evening in Jain practice. Many Jain households do a simple evening puja, along with practices like samayika (meditative timekeeping) and pratikraman (repentance) as part of daily devotion.
Specifics to consider:
- Arghya: In Jainism, offerings at home are usually simple and focused on reverence to the Tirthankaras or the Attendant Deities, rather than elaborate arghya right-overs. If you mean offering water (arghya), it is more common in Hindu rituals; Jains typically emphasize a sincere bhava (faith/intent) and the proper veneration during puja or samayika. A quiet, respectful setup with a small idol or symbol of the Tirthankara and a clean, calm space is appropriate.
- Nirvana day (Mahavir Nirvanotsav/Kalyanak occurrences): In the evening of such observances, many Jains perform a longer samayika and/or pratikraman, read or recite suttas, offer simple prayers, and sometimes fast or reduce meals as a mark of reverence. Both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions celebrate Mahavira’s nirvana, and the exact ritual emphasis can vary: some communities emphasize more extensive fasting and devotional recitation, while others focus on meditative and penitential practices.
Differences you might notice:
- Digambar and Shwetambar communities may organize the timing and emphasis of Nirvan day observances somewhat differently, but both generally include peaceful veneration of Mahavira, a samayika, and reflections on non-violence, truth, and renunciation.
- The language of the prayers and the exact format of the puja or samayika can differ between the two traditions, even while the underlying spirit remains the same: calm reflection, respect for the Tirthankaras, and inner purification.
If you’d like, tell me which tradition you follow (Digambar or Shwetambar) and what level of detail you want (a step-by-step home puja, or a brief overview for the Nirvan day evening observance), and I can tailor the guidance accordingly.