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bara and Svetambara traditions. Chapters five and six discuss relevant details of the iconography of the Jinas, their attendant Yaksas and Yaksis, noting the monuments, sites and the museums where the images occur. The last chapter succinctly summarises the main trends of the iconographic development and is followed by useful iconological appendices, bibliography and a glossary of technical terms employed.
Carefully documented and well illustrated, the book presents a critical and comprehensive coverage of Jaina art and iconography and will be useful alike to the scholars, students and lay readers intersted in the subject.
-Krishna Deva
ESSENCE OF JAINISM by Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain, Shuchita Publications,
Sarnath, Varanasi, 1982, Pages 48, Price Rs. 4.00.
The small pocket book takes its place among many similar production that have come up during the past few years. It deals with the essence of Jainism, if there is anything that may be called the essence of a religion. The point of view is strictly Digambara. The essence is narrated in section one which describes a Jina from birth as an ordinary human till his liberation and his teachings he leaves behind. Although propounded by 24 teachers at different periods of time, none coinciding with another, the teachings are strikingly similar. Section two discusses Mahavira, the last of the galaxy of 24 who was a senior cont of Gautama Buddha. Indeed he was a historical person and has been copiously noticed in the contemporary, particularly Pali, literature. Section three contains excerpts from the Jina's teachings, 12 in number in the present case, though they could have been more, concluding with a prayer.
During the past few years since 1974, the Jaina spiritual slogan, also noticed in this pocket book, has been 'live and let live'. The reviewer has a sincere doubt whether a religion needs a slogan like politics where these are made to befool the public not to enlighten them. In religion these are to be silently practised. Secondly in Jainism one attains liberation strictly by dint of self exertion and hard penance and not by grace. So the concluding prayer where a devotee seeks 'refuge' at the feet of a noble Jina needs clarification. Will the Jina suitably respond ?
-K. C. Lalwani
Jain Education International
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