Swastika

Description of Swastika

Swastika is the symbol of Suparsvanath, the seventh Tirthankara in Jainism. It is also one of the Ashtamangala, or eight auspicious symbols, in the Svetambara tradition. The swastika must be present in all Jain temples and holy texts, and rituals often start and conclude with the creation of the symbol using rice. The swastika’s four arms stand for the four potential afterlife locations for a soul in samsara, the cycle of birth and death: Svarga (“heaven”), Naraka (“hell”), Manushya (“humanity”), or Tiryancha (“as flora or wildlife”). The Ratnatraya (three jewels) of Jainism are symbolized by the three dots that sit atop the swastika. The arc represents Siddhashila, a location in the highest regions of the universe made of pure energy. Siddhashila is higher than heaven, earth, or hell. It is the location where saved souls, such as Arihants and Siddhas, dwell eternally in the highest state of joy.

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Jain main description

Jainism Symbols

With its roots in India at least 2,500 years ago, Jainism is among the world's oldest religions. The teachings of Jainism are eternal, and as a result, according to its traditions, it has no creator. However, the Jainism of this era may be traced back to Mahavira, a teacher from the sixth century BCE and a contemporary of the Buddha. The attainment of Moksha, or the all-knowing state, is the spiritual goal of Jainism. It involves being freed from the never-ending cycle of reincarnation. This can be accomplished through Ahimsa (nonviolence).  Like Buddhists, Jainists honor saints who have attained total liberation from the bonds of worldly life. The 24 Tirthankaras, who symbolize the apex of the Jains' religious development and emerged as instructors at various points in history, are the most significant of them. The Tirthankaras, along with 12 Chakravartins (world conquerors), nine Vasudevas (counterparts of Vasudeva), and nine Baladevas (counterparts of Balarama, the elder half-brother of Krishna) constitute the 54 Mahapurusas (great souls), to which nine Prativasudevas (enemies of the Vasudevas) were later added. Other, less significant characters with Hindu influences include the nine Naradas (counterparts of the goddess Narada, the intermediary between gods and humans), the eleven Rudras (counterparts of the Vedic god Rudra), and the twenty-four Kamadevas (gods of love). The Bhavanavasis (house gods), Vyantaras (intermediaries), Jyotiskas (luminaries), and Vaimanikas (astral gods) are the other four categories of gods. Here is a list of some significant Jain Symbols with their details.