Answer

In Jain Dharma, pooja is done to the idol of a Tirthankar or Arihant with devotion, purity, and respect. The idol is not worshipped as a creator god, but as a sacred symbol of the liberated soul’s qualities such as peace, non-attachment, and purity.

Explanation

A simple Jain pooja is generally done like this:

• Purification

- Bathe, wear clean clothes, and keep the body and mind calm. - Enter the temple barefoot and with reverence.

• Bow before the idol

- Offer respect to the Tirthankar idol by folding hands and bowing. - The feeling should be humility, not asking for worldly favors.

• Abhishek or Jal-puja

- In many traditions, the idol is first gently washed with pure water. - This symbolizes cleansing of inner impurities.

• Puja with sacred items

- Offer items such as: - water - sandalwood - flowers - rice - incense - lamp - The exact items depend on the Jain tradition and temple customs.

• Recite prayers or stotras

- Chant Jain prayers, stotras, or mantras with devotion. - Commonly, people remember the virtues of the Tirthankar.

• Aarti and silent meditation

- Some traditions perform aarti. - After pooja, one sits quietly and reflects on Jain values.

• Pradakshina and closing prayer

- Walk around the temple or idol respectfully if the custom is followed. - End with a prayer for inner purity, self-control, and liberation.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jainism, pooja is mainly a way to:

• remember the supreme qualities of the Tirthankars
• reduce ego and attachment
• cultivate devotion and purity
• strengthen the path of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct

The idol helps focus the mind on the ideal of liberation. The true worship in Jain Dharma is inner purification and self-discipline.

Takeaway

Jain pooja is not idol worship in the ordinary sense. It is a reverent practice of honoring the Tirthankar’s virtues and purifying one’s own mind through devotion, simplicity, and non-attachment.