Idol Worship
Devapuja means worship of Thirthankaras. It is done in front of icons of any liberated souls such as Tirthankara, Siddha or Arihant. There are no reference of idol worship in canonical texts. Sthanakavasi there for opposed idol worship. They believe in meditation and silent prayers.
Erecting Jain temples started around 300 BCE.
Jain idols have no miraculous powers, daily rituals help the worshipper towards a reverent state of mind. They are seen as a personification of ideal state which one should attain.
During medieval period, worship of some Yaksha and Yakshini, divine gods who are not liberated souls, started. They are believed to help a person by removing obstacles in life.
Elaborate forms of ritual usually done in the temple. Jains wear clean three clothes for many rituals and enter temple with words related to respect for Tirthankara. He bows down to Tirthankara at main shrine and will circumambulate him three times.
Main ritual can be devided in two parts:
- Dravya puja (worship with materials)
- Bhava puja (Psychic worship, no need of materials)
Read more about this topic: Jain Rituals And Festivals, Rituals
Famous quotes containing the words idol and/or worship:
“Your mock saint who stands in a niche is not a woman if she have not suffered, still less a woman if she have not sinned. Fall at the feet of your idol as you wish, but drag her down to your level after that—the only level she should ever reach, that of your heart.”
—Emmuska, Baroness Orczy (1865–1947)
“The eastern light our spires touch at morning,
The light that slants upon our western doors at evening,
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
Moon light and star light, owl and moth light,
Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade.
O Light Invisible, we worship Thee!”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)