Book Title: Jain Philosophy
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

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Page 137
________________ 108 it is a part of nature, and if you can have sufficient number of mangoes that have fallen to the ground let us take them only and not cut the tree.” Some think this to be the symbol of laziness, but it is not, It is teaching the saving of life. It teaches also not to sacrifice too much for a limited purpose, If you bave an obiect in view the the means resorted to ought to be coinmensurate with the end, I could give you more Jain symbols, but it would take all our time on one line. We will take some Brahinin sy mnobls. Some are common to the Jains too. The Syınbol common to all religions in India is "Om". Which in Brahinin philosophy consists of three letters, A, U, and M. When these three letters are joined together, by the rules of euphony it is sounded OM. The Brahmins explain this symbol to mean the creative, the preservative and the destructive principles. When the letter A is pronounced, the breath comes out from the throat, which signifies emanation or creation. The letter U, keeps the breath in toe mouth for a time and, therefore, is the symbol of the preservative principle. The letter M, stops the breath for a time and lets it out through a different channel the nostrils, and symbolizes destruction and regeneration. Instead of dividing this symbol into three letters we Jains divide it into five: A. A. A. U. M. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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