Cherry Hill Jain Sangh

Snatra Puja was written by Shree Acharya Veervijayji Maharaj hundreds of years ago using certain popular Tirthankars to depict the ritual and pay respect through this re-enactment with different kinds of flowers, incense, or water (called Kusumanjali) putting at the foot of Jineshwar Bhagwan. A simple symbolic act is to touch one's forehead with the liquid used to bath the idol. The ritual bathing of the image (Snatra Puja) is a symbolic re-enactment of the bathing of the newborn Tirthankara by celestial gods and goddesses (Dev and Devis). Snatra derives from the word "Snan", which means "to bathe". Bathing the idol also takes place during the Panch Kalyanak Puja, a ritual to commemorate the five great events of the Tirthankara's life, namely conception, birth, renunciation, omniscience and moksa. In India, snatra puja is performed daily in all temples. It should be noted that Snatra Puja must be performed before every puja. Each tirthankar's birth is celebrated by this ceremony.

The spiritual reasons for Snatra Puja are the following:

1). This is a medium of expressing our respect and devotion towards Jineshwar bhagwan. "Devotion is the only simple and easy route leading to salvation or imancipation".

2). To grasp or receive virtues of Tirthankar. By politely establishing Jineshwar Bhagwan on the throne and then bathing him, we ought to receive virtues of Tirthankar. This is because since the beginning of time, which has no beginning, we have collected endless particles of filthy thoughts and vies due to passion, snare of world and spite. We want to abolish these passions and spites by continuous shower of virtues of Tirthankar and thereby purifying the soul leading to imancipation (Moksha).

Sarasa Shanti - We bow to Shree Jineshwar who is extremely tranquil, fascinating, pious, coffer of endless virtues.

Kusuma Bharna - We remove the flowers of ornaments from the body of Jineshwar and establish the idol on the throne and anoint him with sweet water.

Jinajanma Samayae - Those who observe the bathing, by dev and devis, of Shree Jineshwar with golden and diamond pots are considered to be very lucky.

Nirmal - After anointing with clean and neat water, we put valuable garments and put flowers at the feet of Shree Jineshwar. As the clean water removes the dust and rubbish from our body, the great divine substance oozing from the Jineshwar cleans and removes our bad karmas from our soul.

Muchkund - The gods and goddesses put five kinds of flowers namely, muchkund, champo, malti, lotus, etc. This rite is called giving "Obligations of flower" (Kusumanjali).

Rayana Shihasan - Now, establish the idol of Shree Shantinath on the throne set with jewels and give obligations of flowers because he is coffer of virtues and destroys the sins of all creatures.

Krishnagaruvara Krishna Guru (cousin of Neminath) offers Shree Neminath Jineshwar and gives obligations of flower at his feet.

Jasuparimal - As the wasps are attracted by the perfume and creates music, gods and mankind by giving best and sweet flowers achieve the salvation (Emancipation).

Pasajineshwar Benevolent (obliging) - Shree Parshvanath gives victory in the world. We give obligations of all the best and clean flowers at his feet.

Muke Kusumanjali Gods and goddesses give obligations of flower at the feet of Shree Mahavir Bhagwan. By giving obligations of flowers at the feet, best souls can destroy their sin past, present, and future lives.

Vividha - Having different kinds of flower, we bow down to Shree Jineshwar and give obligations of flowers at his feet.

Navankale Deities and Damsels bring Shree Jineshwar on Meru Mountain and giving him a bath, they give obligations of sweet flowers at his feet.

Vardhman Chauvishi - Jina All Indras give obligations of flowers at the feet of all Twenty Four Jineshwars whose mediation removes and destroys all the difficulties and sufferings and make the members of the union happy.

Ananta Chauvishi - We bow down all previous groups of twenty-four jineshwar and we give obligations of flowers at the feet of present Twenty Four Jineshwars devotedly.

Apachara Mandali - By appreciating his virtues, we give obligations of flowers to Shree Jineshwar who is worshipped and rejoiced by the groups of damsels.

Sayala Jineshwar - "All the members of the Union (Sangh) can fulfill their hopes, desires, and purposes by describing and hearing the well-being of Jineshwar.

Samkit Gune Shree Jineshwar - achieving true perception, in his previous birth and observing good character and holy life and worshipping Vissthanak Tap, thinks in his heart (see below).

Jo Hove Muj Shakh "I wish I had power to inspire all living creatures of the universe to take interest in the Kingdom of Jineshwar." By this pious thought, he achieves the status of "Tirthankar" in future birth.

Suragathi Sayam In this way, Jineshwar observes his holy character and holy life by thinking the upliftment of the whole universe.

Vachema Aekdev Thereafter, Mahavirswami takes birth in heaven as a dev. After dying from that heaven, He takes birth in the womb of Trishala at the palace of King Siddarth.

Utarta Chaud Supan At that time, Mother Trishala sees fourteen divine dreams in her sound sleep.

Phela Gajavara Ditho In her first divine dream, she sees an elephant, in the second, a shining Ox, in the third, a Lion, in the fourth, the beautiful goddess Laxmi, in the fifth, a wreath of flowers (a Garland), in the sixth, the full moon, in the seventh, the Red Sun, in the eighth, a large Flag, in the ninth, a large full water pot, in the tenth, a Lake full of lotus, in the eleventh, the Milky Ocean, in the twelfth, a Divine Plane, in the thirteenth, a Pile of Jewels, and in the fourteenth, a Smokeless Fire.

Swapna Lai Jai After seeing the fourteen dreams, Mother Trishala awakes and goes to King Siddarth and tell him about her divine dreams.

Raja Artha Prakashe King Siddarth tells the meaning of the divine dreams and makes a forecast….

Putra Tirthankar "You will give birth to a great son who will be the "Tirthankar". All the living creatures of the whole universe will bow down to him and all our hopes, desires, and purposes will be fulfilled."

Avadhignan With the knowledge of Avidhignan, the soul of Mahivira gets planted into the womb of mother Trishala and becomes very happy and cheerful.

Subhlagne Shree Mahavirswami takes birth when all the planets are perfectly aligned (all good things happen) and after His birth, all the living creatures of the whole universe (even in hell) feel happiness and relief from their sufferings and miseries with the divine light.

Sambado Kalash Fifty-six divine maiden goddesses (devis) come from different directions to bow down to Jineshwar and Mother Trishala and rejoice extremely.

Astaa Sanvarta The tasks of these fifty-six devis are: - Eight clean the ways, Eight shower the scented water, Eight offer water pots, Eight offer mirrors, Eight offer blowers, Eight blow their Fans, Four tie up the divine thread of protection and Four stand with the enlightened lamp. Now, the fifty-six devis build up a small house of banana leaves and bring Trishala and Vardhaman (Mahavir) to give him a shower.

Kusumapuji Then they worship Mahavira with sweet flowers and adorn Him with oranaments and tie up the divine thread of protection and lay Him down in the cradle.

Nami Kahe Maaye Then, they bow to Mother Trishala and her son and say, "Your son may live long and be victorious as long as Meru Mountain, the sun and the moon exist in the universe."

Swami Guna Gavati At this time, the throne of Saudharmendra vibrates.

Jina Janmyaji He becomes to know, with the knowledge of Avidhignan, that Mahavira has taken birth and he becomes happy and cheerful.

Sugosh Ade Ganta Nade Then, he orders the god, Haringamaishi, to bell ("Sugosha") and to tell all the Gods and goddesses to go to Meru Mountain to celebrate the birthday function of Jineshwar. Billions of Gods get together and go to Meru Mountain.

Aem Sabhliji While Trishla is still sleeping, Saudharmendra takes Jineshwar in his two hands and go to Meru Mountain with the dancing gods and goddesses.

Meru Uparaji Saudharmendra celebrates the birthday function in Panduk Forest with a delighted and cheerful face. Other sixty-three indras also to join the function.

Malya Chausath Then, Achutendra orders the dev and devis to bring water from the Ganges River and milk from the Milky Ocean. They do so and bring flowers, dishes, throne blowers, incenses and saucers. They put all pots before Jineshwar and worship him and anoint him devotedly.

Atam Bhakti In this way, the gods of astrology (Vyantragods and the gods of Bhuvanpati and Vaimnik) celebrate the function of Jineshwar's birth in extreme joyous mood, dancing and playing varieties of music, telling Mother Trishala, "This is your great and divine son, however, he is our greatest master and we are also his disciples and our only shelter in the universe." At this time, they all shower gold, silver, and jewels worth millions and billions.

Sadharana Whoever celebrates the function of the Jineshwar Bhagwan's birth, in this way, will achieve happiness, bliss, and joy forever.