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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
experiences of this nature, and we know stories of this type are found all over the world.
The.vyantaras may occupy a tree, some old, deserted house or ruins, temples or whatever region they can live. Because they have a subtle body they can not be seen by our eyes, but they protect their own territory. Hence Jains, when entering a temple, do not want to disturb them and request them to permit them to enter the temple by saying “Nissahi, nissahi, nissahi!” and when leaving say "Āssahi, āssahi, āssahi,” “thanks, take your place," so that these celestials are not offended or hurt.
. Sometimes such celestials protect the area by taking various body-forms, such as those of multi-headed animals, as are shown even in Indus drawings from thousands of years ago, or they may take the form of semi-human figures, as we can see in the walls of modern temples also. They are also knows as yakshas and yakshinis, protecting the temple grounds."
All these beings fulfill specific intelligent and conscious roles within a karmic totality and their "society” is structured hierarchically, each hierarchy with an Indra or divine king at the top. The same applies to the next class of gods or celestials, which live in the lower regions of the higher heavens.
Inhabitants of the higher worlds
Those who live in the heavenly realms are in possession of all five senses and a mind. They are called Vaimanikas because they have a vimāna – a heavenly vehicle, airplane or flying palace. Such flying palaces are of celestial beauty, richly adorned with jewels, and sometimes as big as whole cities. All of them have been humans in the Middle World and will again be humans in the future. In general we may say that in
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Jain Education International
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