Answer

Chandan Pooja in Jain Dharma is done by offering pure sandalwood paste to the Jin idol with devotion, purity, and a शांत mind. It is usually performed after Jal Pooja and before other upchar pujas.

Explanation

A simple Jain Chandan Pooja vidhi is:

1. Take bath and wear clean clothes

- Keep the body and mind pure. - Avoid haste and distraction.

1. Sit with reverence before the Jin idol

- Fold hands and शांत मन से pray. - First recite the Navkar Mantra.

1. Prepare the chandan

- Use clean, natural sandalwood paste. - It should be smooth and fragrant.

1. Offer the chandan

- Apply it gently on the idol as per your temple tradition. - The feeling should be of respect, not decoration. - Remember that chandan symbolizes coolness, purity, and inner calm.

1. Recite a Jain mantra while offering

- The most common and universal mantra is the Navkar Mantra.

1. Bow down after the pooja

- Pray for right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, and inner peace.

Shlok / Mantra for Chandan Pooja

The most accepted Jain mantra to recite is:

णमो अरिहंताणं णमो सिद्धाणं णमो आयरियाणं णमो उवज्झायाणं णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं

Transliteration: Namo Arihantanam Namo Siddhanam Namo Ayariyanam Namo Uvajjayanam Namo Loe Savva-Sahunam

Spiritual Understanding

Chandan is cool and soothing, and in Jain worship it reminds us to develop:

• Shanti - peace
• Vinay - humility
• Shuddhi - purity
• Vairagya - detachment

The outer offering of sandalwood should awaken the inner offering of a शांत and निर्मल mind.

Takeaway

For Chandan Pooja, keep the vidhi simple: purity, devotion, Navkar Mantra, and respectful offering of sandalwood paste. The main purpose is not the ritual alone, but inner calm and reverence toward the Jin.