Jinamanjari 2002 04 No 25

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 22

Jinamañjari, Volume 25, No.1, April 2002
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JAINA
ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Dr. Usha Rani, Bangalore, India
Jainism, which is said to have prevalent in the Indian subcontinent within the Dravidian culture as a organized religion before the coming of the Aryans, has its records dating as far back as 800 B.C.E., and its archeological evidence has been traced to Harappa-Mohenjadaro site. It has been noted that the Jain scriptural texts do speak of the importance of introducing art in early education.')
The philosophy of Jainism being grounded in the nature of life-force and human spiritualism at its apex, the art and architecture do reveal a general tendency with the underlying characteristics of inclination, inspiration and inner beauty. Art in Jainism is thus more closely linked with the cardinal ideals attempting to shape its metaphysics and observance. The Jain art and architecture therefore allude in exculsivity toward more of the human spiritualism under the influence of nature and when it is expressed in images the full divinity comes to the fore. Through its art and architecture there emerges its religious objectivated expression - special features especially in anthropomorphic forms.
Unlike other Indian faiths, the temple ritual requirements in Jainism are somewhat different. The word Jina or Tirthankara in Jain religion although can be alluded as non-mystified non-creator God, the inner attitude towards worship and rituals are emphasized on strict spiritual and moral ethos, and their observance. Therefore, ritualism in Jainism stands as a powerhouse as well as a pro-active force in the matters of ethics, morality and human behaviour. Accordingly, the Jinas are the real great personages who have tread the Path of Purification through a value system of reason and ethics. As the point of this "can be good philosophy," Mahavira -- the last Jina -- before the time of Lord Buddha, had reinvigorated the matters of ethics, morality and human behaviour over 2600 years ago in the East and
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