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JAINA MONUMENTS
As in Hindu iconography, so also in Jaina, the gods and goddesses are classified into orders, and convenient groups; they are mostly mortal and are mostly distinguished by lāñchchhanas or cognizances. The most prominent among these gods as well as the most ancient are the 24 Tīrthankaras or the perfected teachers who belong to the present age, (Avasar pini).
Luckily we have ample materials concerning these Tirthankaras, and if to-day we have not a sufficiently satisfactory compendium of Jaina iconography it is not because materials are lacking.
TABLE OF CLASSIFICATION OF SOULS.
SOULS
!
Perfect (Sidha)
Mundane (entangled in uiatter)
Samanya sidalia Tirthankala siddha
Human Sub-hunan Hellish Celestial.
Ascetic
tie
Ascetic
Nou-ascetic
Ailiats Achāryās Upadliyāyas Sadhus
Great
Oidiuary
12 Chakra-
Vartinis
9 Pati-Nārä
yanas
14 Maulis
21 Kamadevas
9 Núradas
9 Nārāyanas
9 Baladevas
24 Parents of Tirthaukaas
11 Rudras
Bhavanaväsi-devas and their Indras
Jyotish ka devas
and their Indras, Vyantara-devas
Vaimnika-devas and their
and their Indias.
Indras.
Other
devas and devis.
Siddhas, arhats, achāryas, upādhyāyas and sādhus are called pancha-paramështhins or the five supreme ones, to whom the Jainas pray and bow many times every day with the following invocation mantra): -