Meaning of Agra puja
Agra puja (agra-pūjā) means the initial, or first, worship offered at the start of a Jain prayer or ritual. It is the homage paid to the Tirthankaras, Arihants and Siddhas, and to the revered teachers and scriptures, before the rest of the puja proceeds. The idea is to humble the soul at the very outset and set the proper devotional frame for the ceremony.
Notes:
- In many Jain practice traditions, Agra puja is followed by other steps of the prayer (like Navkar, pada puja, etc.).
- There can be small differences between Digambar and Shwetambar customs in the exact wording or order, but the core meaning remains the same: an initial reverence to the enlightened beings and the Jain teachings.