Can Nav ANG POOJA TO BE DONE NEAR BY IDOLS IN MURTI PUJA MANDIR
Nav Ang Puja (navāṅ puja) is a devotional rite that relates to the nine aspects (anga) associated with spiritual practice in Jainism. How it is performed and where it is done can vary somewhat between traditions, but here is the general guidance:
- In most Shvetambar temples, murti puja with idols (Tirthankaras) is a common setting for ritual worship. Nav Ang Puja can be included as part of such murti puja, performed in front of or near the idols with proper respect, cleanliness, and reverence.
- In Digambar tradition, there is a stronger emphasis on meditation and scriptural study, and temple rituals may be more restrained about idol-based worship. Nav Ang Puja, if performed, would be carried out with the same spirit of detachment and reverence, but the emphasis might be less on elaborate idol-centered rites.
Key point:
- It is acceptable to perform Nav Ang Puja near the idols in a murti puja mandir in traditions where idol worship is practiced (primarily Shvetambar). If you follow a Digambar practice, confirm with your local temple priest, as procedures and emphasis can differ by community.
If you’d like, I can look up specific temple guidelines or texts from Jain tradition to give you more precise, tradition-specific details.