ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 74

unstitched clothes / dress. He will cover his head with the same cloth also. Women wear special dedicated cloths for the occasion. Svetāmbara Jains use a mouth covering also. In case of special worships, devotees do put up artificial crowns and garlands to feel like
gods and kings while performing the rituals. ii. Hymns: There are number of Pūjās, songs, mantras, meant for specific purpose,
occasion and of twenty-four ford-maker used while performing the worship. iii. Yantras. Some special alphabets, words and mantras when placed in graphical
formations on metal plates are called implements /instruments (yantra). It is said that these yantras do possess certain super natural powers and are therefore considered as important devices in Jain worships. In fact, historically it is said that before the advent of idol making, these yantras were used to convey the same feelings as idols of jinas. At times they are also used as an alternate to idols. Rosaries and incense: Rosaries, normally containing 108 beads, are used primarily to aid recite mantras for 108 times and are provided in the temples. Incense sticks or powder is used to make the environment fragrant and give a feeling of holiness. Jains also use earthen or metal oil lamps to signify the acquisition of the light (true knowledge).
Social consciousness in Jainism Even though Jainism is an ascetic based religion which preached detachment from worldly life to attain liberation; yet we find Jains as a community continue to exist as a prosperous, educated, non violent community contributing tremendously to the society in which they live. This is obvious from the large number of schools and educational institutions (over 4000), several thousand hospitals and dispensaries, animal shelters, homes for destitute, pilgrim places, objects of art like Dilwara temple, Shravanabelgol built and run by Jains along with vast corpus of literature and continuous charity to help the socially underprivileged fellow beings.
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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