ABSTRACT
Jainism distinguishes itself from its earliest period as a lifestyle practice informed by ethical ritual through strict observance of ahiṃsā. This concern is expressed through personal behavior grounded in ritualized avoidance of harm to earth, water, fire, air, plant, and animal bodies as see in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra (325 B.C.E.). At a later time in Jain history, Virahanka Haribhadra (6th century C.E.) extols the virtues of pūjā, through which one honors the saints who observe and embody nonviolence and provide a model for freedom. The Jñānārṇava (10th century) of Subhacandra (Digambara) and the Yogaśāstra (11th century) of Hemacandra (Svetambara) give specific instructions for piṇḍastha meditations that internalize a ritual process and transform one into the living presence of the liberated beings. Building on these historical precedents, this chapter will describe the eightfold worship practiced in Jain temples and describe how the Jain temple serves as a center for self-purification.
