Jain worship is saturated with symbols that constantly direct attention toward non‑violence, right understanding, and liberation. The swastika, the three dots, and the crescent with a dot together express the journey of the soul through four states of existence and its ultimate resting place in Siddhashila, attained through the Three Jewels of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. The ahimsa hand, often with a wheel in the palm, serves as a visual vow to halt harm in thought, word, and deed. The sacred syllable Om is revered as a compact remembrance of the five supreme beings, and images of the Tirthankaras, serene and still, embody the ideal of inner purity and detachment. These symbols are not merely decorative; they function as visual scriptures, continually reminding practitioners of the path and its goal.

Rituals in Jain practice are similarly didactic, shaping conduct and consciousness rather than seeking divine favor. Daily and periodic worship (puja) centers on the images of the Tirthankaras, with rituals such as abhisheka or snatra puja, in which the images are bathed with water, milk, sandalwood paste, and other pure substances, symbolizing the cleansing of one’s own karmic impurities. Offerings of flowers, rice, sweets, incense, and lamps during puja and aarti are understood as outward expressions of inner virtues and aspirations, with the light of the lamp representing the illumination of right knowledge. Formal temple prayers such as chaityavandana, along with the recitation of mantras and hymns—especially the Namokar Mantra—orient the mind toward reverence for the spiritually perfected beings and the values they embody.

Alongside these devotional forms, Jain practice gives great weight to ascetic and introspective disciplines. Meditation (dhyana) and the specific practice of samayik cultivate equanimity and focused contemplation, often for a set period, to foster non‑violence and inner stillness. Pratikramana, performed regularly, involves confession, repentance, and a careful review of one’s actions, aiming at the gradual purification of the soul. Fasting (upavasa), especially during major observances such as Paryushan, serves to loosen attachment to the body and its pleasures, while intensifying attention to prayer, scriptural reflection, and forgiveness. Through this interweaving of symbol and ritual, Jain worship becomes a disciplined training of perception and behavior, guiding the practitioner step by step toward self‑purification and liberation.