Book Title: Jainism
Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

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Page 104
________________ 7. Holy Symbols ST [22] The holiest symbol of Jains is a simple Swastika. The symbol of the universe as depicted in Jain literature is also decorated in many Jain shops and houses. Another one is a wheel on the palm of a hand, symbolizing Ahimsa. We find eight auspicious symbols known as the Asta-Mangals: Swastika, Shrivatsa, Nandyavartya, Vardhamanaka, Bhadrasana, Kalasha, Minayugala and Darpana. There are many other symbols related to Tirthankaras. 8. Language & Literature In addition to the Agamic literature and other ancient literature, Jains have wielded a great influence on the language of the south Indian state Karnataka and Gujarat. Between the 9th - the 13th centuries, Kannada writers were predominantly of the Jain faith. Pampa, Poona and Ranna collectively called the 'three gems of the Kannada literature indicated the age of classical Kannada in the 10th century. A Jain monk wrote the earliest known Guajarati text, Bharat-Bahubali Ras. The important person in Gujarat Jain history was Acharya Hemchandra Suri who worked on Jain literature which is very much useful even today. Nowadays we find enough literature in English also. 9. Pilgrims Jains have built a large number of pilgrim centers associated with the attainment of salvation of Thirthankars or other Siddhas. They have built them at places where a divine activity took place or places where the other four Kalyankas of the Tirthankars took place. These pilgrim centers are frequented by Jains as a part of their spiritual and 104

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