$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 206

RITUALS
D02 - Emblems, Dreams, Puja Rituals
D02 - Emblems, Dreams, Puja Rituals
01 Länchhans (Emblems Or Symbols)
As all Tirthankars have attained the supreme spiritual stage, their idols (murti) represent the utmost qualities and virtues of a Tirthankar. Tirthankar's idol is a mere representation of their virtues and not a representation of their physical bodies. Therefore, all idols are carved in the same fashion. However, the only identifying feature of a given idol is the symbol, which is engraved at the base of the idol that distinguishes one from the other Tirthankars.
When a Tirthankar is born, he or she has a particular mark on their right thigh. This birthmark is in the form of a speck called Länchhan emblem (symbol). This symbol can be found on the base of the idol to identify that Tirthankar. For example, an idol of Bhagawan Mahavir Swämi will have a symbol of a lion engraved at the base of the idol, while an idol of Pärshva-näth will have a symbol of a snake. Some differences exist between the symbols of Digambar and Shvetämbar sects and are defined on the below table.
Temples of the Digambar sect have the idols of Tirthankars in their natural unadorned form with their eyes semi-closed in meditation. It represents the Tirthankar (Jina) as a liberated soul (free from attachment and aversion).
Temples of the Shvetämbar sect have the idols adorned in a very elegant manner. The eyes vividly communicate peace and loving compassion. Positive vibrations emanate from the adorned energy centers. Shvetämbar idols are often times vividly decorated with colorful golden and silver threads called Ängi. It represents the Tirthankar as a spiritual king and sovereign victor of all the inner enemies and five
senses.
Sometimes the color of the idol is different. This color is associated with the physical body of a Tirthankar (see Tirthankar symbol and color table in this section).
02 Tirthankars
Time rolls along in eternal cycles of rise and decline. Utsarpini is a "rising" era in, which human morale and natural conditions improve over time. At the end of Utsarpini, begins Avasarpini, a "declining" era of the same length, in, which human morale and virtues deteriorate. Each era consists of six sub divisions called Äräs. During the 3rd and 4th Äräs of every rising and declining era of each cycle, twenty-four souls become Tirthankars in our region known as Bharat Kshetra. They are the humans like us who rise to the highest divine level. They had gradually purified their soul in prior lives after achieving Samyag Darshan, right faith and had acquired a special karma called Tirthankar Näm Karma. The Tirthankar Näm Karma is acquired by performing one or more of the 20 specific austerities along with an intense desire to lead all living beings to the path of liberation. Tirthankar Näm Karma matures in the final life and leads the person to become a Tirthankar after taking Dikshä and observing austerities to destroy all Ghäti destructive karmas. After attaining omniscience Keval-jnän), Tirthankar organizes the Jain religion to suit the changing times. They reinstate the fourfold order of Sädhus (monks), Sädhvis (nuns), Shrävaks (male householders), and Shrävikäs (female householders) of Jain religion.
Arihantas, Jinas, Kevalis, and Vitarägi are synonyms for Tirthankars. Arihanta means "destroyer of inner enemies," Jin means "victor of inner enemies," and Vitarägi means "one who does not have attachment or hatred towards anyone or anything." This means that they are absolutely detached from worldly aspects.
Upon becoming Tirthankars they spend their remaining life in meditation and preaching all living beings to the path of liberation.
Number of Tirthankars
It was stated earlier that Tirthankars are born only in 3rd and 4th Äräs in our region called Bharat Kshetra of Jambu Dvip. Since we are in the 5th Ärä now, no Tirthankar exist in our region. In the 3rd and 4th Äräs of current Avasarpini cycle, the twenty-four Tirthankars were born in our region. Generally, when we state that there are twenty-four Tirthankars, we specifically mean that there were twenty-four Tirthankars in the 3rd and 4th Ärä of the current Avasarpini time cycle.
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015