Jainism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Symbols=== {{Main|Jain symbols}} {{Multiple image |total_width=275 | image1 = Om jaïn orange.svg | caption1 = [[Om#Jainism|Om in Jainism]] |flag_caption=Flag for Indian Jains | image2 = In-jain.png | caption2 = [[Jain flag]] }} Jain icons and arts incorporate symbols such as the [[swastika]], [[Om#Jainism|''Om'']], and the ''Ashtamangala''. In Jainism, ''Om'' is a condensed reference to the initials "A-A-A-U-M" of the five parameshthis: "''Arihant'', ''[[Ashiri]]'', ''[[Acharya]]'', ''[[Upajjhaya]]'', ''Muni''",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/om.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001132837/http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/om.html |title=Om – Significance in Jainism |publisher=Department of Computer Science of [[Colorado State University]] |archive-date=October 1, 1999 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=410–411}} or the five lines of the [[Namokara Mantra|''Ṇamōkāra'' Mantra]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} The ''[[Ashtamangala]]'' is a set of eight auspicious symbols:{{sfn|Titze|1998|p=234}} in the Digambara tradition, these are [[chatra (umbrella)|chatra]], ''[[dhvaja]]'', ''[[kalasha]]'', [[fly-whisk]], [[mirror]], chair, [[hand fan]] and vessel. In the Śvētāmbar tradition, they are Swastika, ''[[Srivatsa]]'', ''[[Nandavarta]]'', ''Vardhmanaka'' (food vessel), ''Bhadrasana'' (seat), ''[[Kalasha]]'' (pot), ''Darpan'' (mirror) and pair of fish.{{Sfn|Titze|1998|p=234}} [[File:Stambha of Parshwanath Jain Mandir, Belgachhiya 18.jpg|thumb|A symbol to represent the Jain community was chosen in 1975 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of Mahavira's ''nirvana''.]] The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes [[Ahimsa in Jainism|''ahimsā'']]. The wheel represents the ''[[dharmachakra]]'', which stands for the resolve to halt the ''saṃsāra'' (wandering) through the relentless pursuit of ''ahimsā''. The five colours of the [[Jain flag]] represent the ''[[Pañca-Parameṣṭhi]]'' and the five vows.{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=iv}} The [[swastika]]'s four arms symbolise the four realms in which rebirth occurs according to Jainism: humans, heavenly beings, hellish beings and non-humans.{{sfn|Cort|2001a|p=17}}{{sfn|Jansma|Jain|2006|p=123}} The three dots on the top represent the three jewels mentioned in ancient texts: correct faith, correct understanding and correct conduct, believed to lead to spiritual perfection.{{sfn|Cort|2001a|pp=17–18}} In 1974, on the 2500th anniversary of the nirvana of Mahāvīra, the Jain community chose a single combined image for Jainism.{{Sfn|Robinson|2006|p=225}} It depicts the three ''lokas'', heaven, the human world and hell. The semi-circular topmost portion symbolizes ''Siddhashila'', a zone beyond the three realms. The Jain swastika and the symbol of ''Ahiṃsā'' are included, with the Jain mantra ''[[Parasparopagraho Jivanam|Parasparopagraho Jīvānām]]''{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=123}} from sūtra 5.21 of Umaswati's ''Tattvarthasūtra'', meaning "souls render service to one another".{{sfn|Vallely|2013|p=358}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page