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What is ashtaprakari pooja
Ashtaprakari Puja (also called Dravya Puja) is a Jain ritual of offering eight distinct articles to the Tirthankar as a symbolic homage. The eight items and their meanings are:
- Jala Puja (Water): purify the self; reminds us to live with honesty, truth, love, and compassion to progress toward Moksha.
- Chandana Puja (Sandalwood): represents right knowledge and the pursuit of proper, truthful understanding.
- Pushpa Puja (Flower): signifies conduct; one should cultivate a fragrant, compassionate life like a flower.
- Dhupa Puja (Incense): symbolizes renunciation and the monk/monastic ideal—benefiting others through a life of restraint.
- Deepak Puja (Lamp): stands for pure consciousness; the goal is a liberated soul (Siddha) and the five great vows.
- Akshata Puja (Rice): a reminder of a last (non-decaying) birth; aim to live so this life becomes the final one.
- Naivedya Puja (Sweet food): urges reducing attachment to tasty food and seeking a simple, balanced life.
- Phala/Pala Puja (Fruit): the fruit of liberation; living without craving worldly rewards leads to Moksha.
The collection of all eight offerings is called Arghya. Some Jain communities may also add tools like Chamara (whisk), Darpana (mirror), and Pankho (fan) in the ritual.
