Why do shwetambar Jain touch the murti while doing pooja

In Shwetambar Jain pooja, devotees may lightly touch the murti during worship because it is done with bhakti, reverence, and humility, not as ordinary physical contact.

Main reasons:

• Expression of devotion: Touching the murti can show deep respect and surrender to the Tirthankar.
• Awareness of auspiciousness: The murti is treated as a sacred symbol of the Tirthankar’s pure qualities.
• Traditional ritual practice: In many Shwetambar temples, dravya pooja includes physical worship methods such as applying sandal paste, flowers, and other offerings.
• Not for personal gain: The feeling should remain pure, with the understanding that the Tirthankar is vitarag and beyond attachment.

Important point:

• In Jain Dharma, the murti is not worshipped as a god in the worldly sense, but as a reminder and medium of devotion toward the ideal of moksha.
• The exact practice can vary by Shwetambar sub-tradition and temple custom.

So, Shwetambar Jains touch the murti during pooja as an act of shraddha, vinay, and bhakti.