In Jainism, Abhishek Puja and Fal Puja are not the same ritual and they are not viewed as giving the same result.

• Abhishek Puja (abhishek) generally means pouring water or other auspicious substances over a Tirthankar’s idol or a sacred symbol as a mark of reverence and purification. Its purpose is to express devotion, humility, and a wish to purify one’s mind and conduct. It emphasizes kasut—cultivating detachment from ego and external rites—through sincere inner resolve.

• Fal Puja (often called Phal Puja) involves offering fruits or other items as gratitude and as a symbolic act of yielding the results of one’s actions to the Pilgrimage/teacher or to the Tirthankar. It is a devotional expression that reinforces non-attachment and gratitude for the fruits of one’s karma, rather than a cleansing ritual aimed at purification of conduct in the same way as Abhishek.

Key points:

• Both practices foster devotion and the spirit of non-attachment, but they emphasize different aspects: Abhishek focuses more on purification of mind and conduct; Fal Puja focuses on gratitude and surrender of results.
• The perceived “result” is not a guarantee of worldly reward in Jain thought. The true aim is spiritual upliftment through right faith (samyak darshan), right knowledge, and right conduct, rather than attaining specific material outcomes.
• There can be variations between Digambar and Shwetambar communities in how these rites are performed or emphasized, but the underlying aim—devotion paired with detachment—remains aligned with Jain dharma.

If you’d like, I can outline the common steps and proper forms for each ritual as practiced in Jain temples, keeping to the traditional meanings.