Book Title: Jaina Monuments and Places First Class Importance
Author(s): T N Ramchandran
Publisher: Veer Shasan Sangh Calcutta

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Page 62
________________ 54 JAINA MONUMENTS As in Hindu iconography, so also in Jaina, the gods and goddesses are classified into orders, and convenient groups; they are mostly mortal and are mostly distinguished by lāñchchhanas or cognizances. The most prominent among these gods as well as the most ancient are the 24 Tīrthankaras or the perfected teachers who belong to the present age, (Avasar pini). Luckily we have ample materials concerning these Tirthankaras, and if to-day we have not a sufficiently satisfactory compendium of Jaina iconography it is not because materials are lacking. TABLE OF CLASSIFICATION OF SOULS. SOULS ! Perfect (Sidha) Mundane (entangled in uiatter) Samanya sidalia Tirthankala siddha Human Sub-hunan Hellish Celestial. Ascetic tie Ascetic Nou-ascetic Ailiats Achāryās Upadliyāyas Sadhus Great Oidiuary 12 Chakra- Vartinis 9 Pati-Nārä yanas 14 Maulis 21 Kamadevas 9 Núradas 9 Nārāyanas 9 Baladevas 24 Parents of Tirthaukaas 11 Rudras Bhavanaväsi-devas and their Indras Jyotish ka devas and their Indras, Vyantara-devas Vaimnika-devas and their and their Indias. Indras. Other devas and devis. Siddhas, arhats, achāryas, upādhyāyas and sādhus are called pancha-paramështhins or the five supreme ones, to whom the Jainas pray and bow many times every day with the following invocation mantra): -

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