Symbols 1
1. The central religious symbols.
2. The religious meaning of these symbols.
3. The way symbolism provides distinctiveness to a religion.
4. The contribution of symbolism to religious art, music and written expression.
Symbolism is important in the Jain tradition. It is manifested in temple designs, paintings and illustrations, printed matter such as wedding invitations and Diwali cards, and in rituals and worshipThe offering of praise and reverence to God via a religious service. There is a broad range and there is no one core symbol or central emblem for all Jains. The swastika,however, is often seen as a key Jain symbol and there is a Jain Om which incorporates the Universe and symbols representing the three jewels of Jainism - right faith, right knowledge, right conduct.. This is a very ancient symbol which is many thousands of years old and was possibly originally a representation of the shape of the Universe according to the Jains.
Symbols have meaning and remind the seer about the core values of the faith - such as the three jewels of right conduct, right knowledge and right faith as the key to liberation. This is expressed sometimes during the temple 'puja' ceremony using rice to draw the symbol. Symbols are used as an expression of belief and as a reminder of core wisdoms. Temple design also follows symbolic patterns - for example, the mountain is regarded as a spiritualA word with many religious connotations, often used to describe a multiplicity of phenomena that would include inner, reflective or emotional experiences, and those aspects of life that give it meaning and depth or which are profoundly moving or aesthetic. place and most Jain temples are shaped around the symbol of the mountain inviting worshippers to seek height and elevation and remember that wisdom lies away from the crowds and in peaceful serene environments.
There are cities in India with hundreds of Jain temples, and many have symbolic decoration of the highest standard - like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kolkatta. There are major pilgrimage sites in Gujarat, Jharkhand and Karnataka - Palitana, Samet Shikhar and Shravana Belgola.
Websites
http://faithandthearts.com/?s=Jain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/ - BBC Religions Site and links to broadcasts about Jainism
http://www.bl.uk - British Library website. Library has a good collection of Jain Manuscripts.
http://www.faithandthearts.com - Essay on Jain Art
http://www.jainheritagecentres.com
http://www.jainworld.com www.jainsamaj.org
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/asia_features/jainism/index.html - Victoria & Albert Museum Site which has good collection of Jain Art
http://www.youngjains.org.uk - Young Jains' website
Bibliography
Banks, M., 1992. Organising Jainism in India and England. Oxford, OUP.
Cort, J.E., 2001. Jains in the World - Ideology and Religious Values in India. n.l.: n.s.
Dundas, P., 2002. The Jains. London: Routledge.
Granoff, P., 1998. The Forest of Thieves - An anthology of medieval Jain stories. n.l.: n.s.
Jain, M., 2005. Jain Food - Compassionate and Healthy Eating. USA: n.s.
Jaini, P., 1998. The Jaina Path of Purification. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Pal, P., 1994. Peaceful Liberators - Jain Art from India. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Rankin, A., 2006. The Jain Path - Ancient Wisdom for the West. n.l.: O Books.
Sangave, V., 1980. Jaina Community. Bombay: n.s.
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