pratima

In Jainism, pratima refers to the 11 stages of a layman's spiritual progress. These stages are seen as a ladder leading toward higher spiritual development, with the final stages preparing individuals for renunciation and the ascetic life.1

Jainism emphasizes the role of laypersons who support the monastic community. Lay Jains follow eight basic rules, including avoiding night eating and a diet free of meat, wine, and honey. They also observe vows (anuvratas) to abstain from violence, falsehood, and stealing, to be content with their spouse, and to limit possessions.1

Lay Jains perform six obligatory actions, including samayika, a ritual of meditation and renunciation. While the ascetic path leads to the destruction of karma, the lay path focuses on warding off new karma. Image veneration (puja) is also a vital part of Jain tradition, with devotees worshipping images of Tirthankaras for aid in worldly matters.12