How to pray at derasar

Below is a simple, traditional way to pray at a Jain derasar (temple). Follow your local temple’s maryada (rules) if anything differs.

1) Prepare before you go

• Bathe, brush teeth, trim nails. Wear clean, modest, light-colored clothes.
• Avoid leather items inside (belt, wallet, watch-strap, etc.).
• Keep silence in mind; put phones on silent. Many observe not eating before morning darshan/puja.

2) Entry and basic etiquette

• Remove footwear outside. Walk slowly to avoid harming tiny beings.
• Keep the derasar and your hands very clean. Avoid perfumes, chewing gum, or food.
• Do not touch the murtis unless the temple explicitly allows and you are ritually clean.
• Maintain silence; do not step over rangoli/shubh symbols.

3) First darshan

• Stand facing the Tirthankar murti, join palms, and recite the Navkar Mantra softly.
• Bow with humility (panchang pranam as per custom). Do not turn your back abruptly to the murti.
• Offer mental reverence to the Panch Parameshthi (Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu).

4) Pradakshina (circumambulation)

• Walk clockwise around the main shrine, usually 3 times, calmly and with awareness.

5) Dravya-puja (external worship) with bhav (inner feelings)

• If your derasar permits Ashta-prakari puja, the common sequence and its inner meaning are:

- Jal (water): May my inner impurities be washed away. - Chandan (sandal): May my passions cool and mind become steady. - Pushpa (flowers): May my conduct be pure and fragrant like virtues. - Dhoop (incense): May right faith spread everywhere. - Deep (lamp): May the light of right knowledge arise. - Akshat (unbroken rice): May I seek imperishable (akshaya) spiritual wealth. - Naivedya (sweets/grain): May I renounce taste-attachment and nourish the soul. - Phal (fruit): May I attain the true fruit—liberation.

• Perform each offering gently, without wastage, and keep the area clean.
• If you do only bhav-puja (no offerings), stand or sit and recite Navkar, praise of Tirthankars, prarthanas, or do quiet contemplation.

6) Aarti and Mangal Divo (if observed)

• Join palms during aarti; focus on the qualities of the Arihants and Siddhas, not on asking for worldly favors.
• Receive prasad outside the sanctum as per local practice.

7) After puja

• Sit a few minutes in quiet contemplation, do pratikraman gatha or forgiveness prayer (Khamemi Savve Jiva) softly.
• Leave calmly, keeping the purity of mind you cultivated.

Notes on traditions

• Shvetambar Murtipujak: Ashta-prakari puja is common; many wear a muhpatti during puja; aarti/mangal divo is often performed.
• Digambar: Emphasis on abhisheka (jal/snatra) and ashta-dravya puja with deep inner purity; practices like aarti vary by temple.
• Shvetambar Sthanakvasi/Terapanthi: No idol-worship and usually no derasar with murtis; prayers are in upashray—focus on samayik, pratikraman, and svadhyaya.
• Women’s participation and certain days’ restrictions vary by local maryada—please follow your temple’s posted rules.

What to recite (simple and traditional)

• Navkar Mantra, Logassa Sutra, Uvasaggaharam Stotra, Bhaktamar (as per tradition and time).
• Short daily bhav: “Khamemi Savve Jiva, Savve Jiva Khamantu Me. Mitti Me Savva Bhuesu, Veram Majjham Na Kenai.”

Essence to remember

• Aim for inner purification (bhav) more than external ritual.
• Ahimsa, aparigraha, and humility should reflect in every step—walk gently, speak softly, and keep the space spotless.

If you wish to learn basic meanings of core prayers like the Navkar Mantra in simple words, you can read them here: