Ashta‑prakari Pujā = “eight‑fold worship.” It is the most common dravya‑puja (worship with substances) of a Tirthankara idol in Jain temples.

---

1. Origin and purpose

• From very early times, Jains have offered simple substances (water, flowers, etc.) to Tirthankara idols as a sign of respect and as a reminder of inner virtues.
• Āgams and later ritual‑granths describe such dravya‑puja. Acharyas systematized these offerings into eight main items, called Aṣṭa‑prakāri Pujā (eight kinds of worship).
• The main purpose is:

- Not to “please” God (Siddhas/Tirthankars are beyond wants), - But to remember and absorb their qualities – right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, non‑attachment, compassion, etc. - While doing each offering, a Jain should meditate on the virtue symbolized by that substance.

Both Digambar and Śvetāmbara follow Ashta‑prakari Pujā in their own temple traditions; the order or style may differ, but the inner meanings remain essentially the same.

---

2. The eight dravyas and their meanings

1) Jala Pujā – Water

• Dravya: clean water.
• Meaning:

- Water reminds us of the ocean of saṁsār (endless cycle of birth and death). - By living with truth, honesty, non‑violence, and compassion, we can cross this ocean and move towards moksha. - It supports reflection on samyak‑darshan, samyak‑jñān, samyak‑chāritra (right faith, knowledge, conduct).

2) Chandan Pujā – Sandalwood paste

• Dravya: cool, fragrant sandal paste.
• Meaning:

- Symbol of pure, calm knowledge (jñān). - We pray that our mind becomes cool, peaceful, and clear, free from passions and confusion, so that right knowledge can arise and lead us to liberation.

3) Pushpa Pujā – Flowers

• Dravya: fresh, unscented, non‑harmful flowers (or sometimes artificial to avoid hiṁsā).
• Meaning:

- Flower = good conduct (chāritra). - A flower gives beauty and fragrance to all, without discrimination. - We resolve that our behaviour toward every living being will be gentle, kind, and non‑hurtful, like a flower.

4) Dhūp Pujā – Incense

• Dravya: incense stick or dhoop.
• Meaning:

- As incense burns away, it spreads fragrance; likewise, sādhus and sādhvīs burn their own comforts and ego, and spread dharma to all. - Reminds us of renunciation, self‑control, and the ideal of monkhood; we try to reduce attachment and live a more disciplined life.

5) Dīpak Pujā – Lamp

• Dravya: oil or ghee lamp.
• Meaning:

- Flame = pure awakened soul, free from karma (Siddha). - We remember that our real nature is light (consciousness), not body or possessions. - We renew our effort to follow the five great vows in our own capacity (ahiṁsā, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha).

6) Akṣat Pujā – Unbroken rice grains

• Dravya: clean, unbroken, non‑germinating rice.
• Meaning:

- Akṣat = that which does not sprout again; symbol of “no more rebirth”. - We pray and resolve that, by purifying our soul, this life becomes our last birth, leading to the state where no new body is taken.

7) Naivedya Pujā – Food / sweets

• Dravya: simple, pure, non‑violence‑based food (often sweets).
• Meaning:

- Stands for control over taste and greed. - We remember: food is only for support of the body, not for enjoyment. - The ideal is the Siddha state, where the soul is so pure that it needs no food at all.

8) Phal Pujā – Fruit

• Dravya: clean fruit.
• Meaning:

- Symbol of the “fruit” of sādhanā = Moksha. - If we live with non‑attachment, do our duty without craving reward, and keep compassion to all beings, the final fruit is liberation. - This last puja reminds us of our ultimate goal, not just temporary worldly success.

---

3. Digambar and Śvetāmbara views

• Both traditions accept Ashta‑prakari Pujā as a valid, helpful form of dravya‑puja.
• Differences are mainly:

- Style of idol (clothed/unclothed, eyes open/closed), - Exact order or additional mantras/stotras, - Sometimes differences in how much emphasis is given to external puja versus internal meditation.

• Inner meaning of the eight dravyas is the same – they are tools to remember the qualities of the Tirthankaras and to purify one’s own soul.

---

You can read a simple explanation of the meanings of each item of Ashta‑prakari Pujā here