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Mysterious svastikas as they indicate the four-fold roads of existence, as gods, humans, animals and those who remain in the hell. The three dots above symbolise the right faith, the right knowledge and the right conduct. The crescent is no other than the ultimate destination in the cosmogonical space, the Siddhasila whereupon the cone denotes the Siddhas. The Jiva will only ascend the Siddhasila after his peregrination through the afore-mentioned roads of existence by practising the right faith, knowledge and conduct. The arrangements and promise symbolised by the designs created by rice-grains are seemingly reminiscent of an astronomical knowledge and a faith in the need of journeying through the universe of experience. To an astronaut the Siddhasila may appear as hovering like a space-ship high above the svastika that may obviously suggest a heavenly body. The Jaina devotees make such design before the images of the Tirthankaras (Siddhas) in temples to achieve communication with the state of freedom beyond all existence.
Designs produced by Sm. Hawabai Banthia, Bikaner
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