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162: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD velebrate joyously the commemorative days of liberation of their Virthankara and of some of their great Siddha.
When an animal is close to die, Jains recite the “Great Mantra "by Ås sides for the liberation of its soul, like it was a human being, aware
the tradition according to Pārsva would have done so for two makes that where about to be burnt. Afterwards, the legend is that hese snakes became his guardians (yakşa) and (yakṣī) under the tames of Dharanendra and Padmavati.
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Their cults
We will see now what the Jains have as objects of cults and what Met practices are on the matter. According to their obedience, they Sorship or not temples and statues, but all care greatly their sacred books, their holy places and all that lives in nature, together with pority and basic virtues. We have already spoken of their “revered Behgs, we will return to this matter for enlighten how the Jain laity Practice their veneration.
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Their objects of cults
. ) Temples. A great number of Jains have a profound admiration for temples. As we have said, they have built a great number of them, since many centuries, and they continue to do so in India as well as in other countries where they have established communities. These constructions fulfil specific requirements of place, opportunity and shape. Generally, the place where they are erected is chosen so as to recall a religious fact, to honour a Tirthankara, lo encourage meditation and contemplation of the followers. Their shape is modelled on the idea they have of the world, with the assembly of adepts constituting the nave (mandapa), the worldly abode of the honoured Tirthankara the choir (garbha-grha), the mythic Mount Mery from where the thoughts of humans rise up to the region of liberated souls the spire (śikhar.).
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