Jaina Monuments and Places First Class Importance

Author(s): T N Ramchandran
Publisher: Veer Shasan Sangh Calcutta

Page 64

JAINA MONUMENTS
supremo ones (pañcha-parameshthins) can be seen in Jaina Lemples. They are invariably in the shape of chakrus standing on padmāsanas. A very interesting specimen of this symbolic worship is found in i'ne temple at Tiruparuttikunram. The whole is in the form of a chakra which is supported by a crouching lion and two rearing yalıs in turn standing on a padmasana attached to a reclangular bhadrâsana. The chakra can compare well with the Hindu Chakra which is associated with Vishnu. Within the chakra is placed an eight-pelalled lotus (astadalapadma), each petal bearing a sealed figure or some article. The figures are those of the five supreme ones (arhal, suddha, āchārya, upādhyāya and sādhu) while the articles are a dharmachakra or the wheel of the law, a wooden rest supporting the Jaina scripLure called śruta or śruta-jñana and a temple (Jina-ālaya). In the (entre of the lotus where one would expect the seed-vesscl of the lotus, is the seated figure of the Tirtharikara in all his glory, attended by chamaras, triple-parasol, halo and the like. This chakra is symbolical of the worship of Navadēvatās or the "nine (leities," they being the five pañchaparaměshthirs and dlarmachakra, śruta, chaitya and chaityūlaya. The pañchaparaměshthins occupy the centre and the four cardinal points of the lotus while the latter four go in the petals alternately in the following order ; preceeding clockwise dharmachakra first, then śrilta, then chaitya (an idol) and lastly chaityālaya or temple.
'The evolution of souls is based on three fundamental principles, viz., that man is not perfect, but can improve and can achieve perfection, that man's personality is cual, material and spiritual, and that by his spiritual nature man can and must control his material nature. The second of the principles is in striking contrast with the Hindu Adunitic doctrine of Brahman, or one soul which is in all and is all. When the material nature is entirely subjugated the soul is said to have been liberated or to have attained perfection. In its perfection-condition the soul