________________
4. Animal and Plant Beings (Tiryancha)
Therefore, there is no liberation from the heavenly life and such heavenly beings will have to be reborn as human beings in order to attain liberation.
3. Hellish Being (Naraki)
Living beings in Tiryancha category include animals, birds, and all types of plants. These are viewed as living beings of a lower consciousness. Although some animals may be capable of a certain degree of thinking, overall there is a great degree of passivity and dependency in their life. In short, their life is not conducive to attaining liberation or Moksha.
As a hellish being in Narak one is continuously fighting, causing more suffering to others and living in misery. Such a life is therefore unsuitable for spiritual pursuit.
5. Universal
TID
Thus, out of these four Gatis (realms) it is only from a human life, through spiritual pursuit, can one free oneself from the cycle of birth and attain liberation.
Adobe of the liberated soul (SIDDH-LOKA)
The four states in which the soul wanders
These four states are represented clockwise starting from the upper left corner on the Swastika. Our aim should be liberation from these four states of rebirth.
Right Faith Right Conduct Right Knowledge
The three paths to liberation
Human
Heaven Hell
Animal
Non-violence
The three green dots above the swastika represent the three jewels of Jainism - Samyak Darshan, Samyak Inan & Samyak Charitra. This represents the Jain path of liberation.
परस्परोपग्रहोजीवानाम् Mutual assistance of
all beings
At the very top there is a small yellow crescent called Siddhashila, a place for liberated souls. The yellow line above the crescent represents a Siddha or a liberated soul. In order to achieve this stage, a soul must destroy all attached karmas. Every living being should strive for this state of Liberation or Moksha.
This universal Jain symbol is a
combination of various symbols, each having a deeper meaning. It was adopted during the 2500 Nirvana celebration of Lord Mahavir.
The outline of the symbol is defined as the Universe or Loka. The Swastika is
12
JAIN SYMBOLS
