ART AND SYMBOLS

Jain Architecture in Thar Desert, Rajasthan in India

Jain Architecture of Jodhpur, Rajasthan in India

Statue of Rishabha, the first Jaintirthankara

File:Jain

Jainism – the Non Violence and Truth

WORSHIP AND PRAYER

 Jains have certain worship practices.

In Jainism there are certain entities which are acceptable for ritual devotions, they are:

The Tirthankaras (there are 24 human saviours recognised) : A tirthankara is one who establishes Jain organization after conquering both love and hatred . He shows a fine path to the world's living beings to be free from ignorance, misery and moha (Worldly happiness)

The Arhant (worthy of worship): Arihant  in Jainism is a step before becoming siddha.

The Siddha (liberated soul): According to Jain beliefs, Siddhas are liberated souls who have destroyed all the karma bondings. Siddha do not have any kind of body, they are soul at its purest form.

The Sadhu (monk): When a person renounces the worldly life and all the attachments, and is initiated into monkshood or nunhood, the man is called Sadhu.

The Dharm (religion): Jain texts assign a wide range of meaning to the word Dharma . It is often translated as “religion” and as such, Jainism is called Jain Dharma by its adherents.

The Mangals (four auspicious entities)

The Lokottams (four supreme entities)

Many Jains worship at temple everyday, while others do so much less frequently. For Jainism worship is a means to personal spiritual and karmic development.

Jains worship in temples which contain images of the 24 Tirthankaras. There is usually one central being in the temple with other smaller representations throughout the building. Jains worship through meditation, offerings and prayer. Prayers they tend remember great qualities of their religious saviours.