Sramana 2016 01

Author(s): Shreeprakash Pandey, Rahulkumar Singh, Omprakash Singh
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi

Page 80

MANIFESTATION OF ETHICS IN JAINA ART: 73 The worship of the Jinas involves the adoption of a number of moral I ethical virtues, such as non-violence (ahiṁsā), truthfulness (satya), non-thieving (asteya), celibacy (brahmacarya) and non-acquisition (aparigraha), apart from having respect and kindness towards all human and animal beings (Incidently like brahmanical deities like Śīva, Vişņu, Durgā and others the Tīrthankaras are never shown as riding upon the animals as vāhanas since it will amount to himsā against animals. In the context of Tīrthankaras animals and birds are merely shown as their cognizances on the pedestals but never as the vāhanas- such as Ķșabhanātha, Ajitanātha, Sambhavanātha, Mahāvīra have respectively the bull, elephant, horse and lion cognizances. Further respecting others' view points (anekāntavāda) was another feature. These were achieved through deep austerity, renunciation and aparigraha for selfrealization (ātmajñāna, kevalajñāna or ātmasākşhātkāra) to become svastha (to know one's self / soul).'
Most of these ethical concepts are reflected in some or the other forms in Jaina art. Jaina art not only reflects the fine taste for beauty but also heightens the spirit of virtuous moral qualities in man and makes him more worthy as a member of human society, having respect for the personality of others. Of what value is that piece of art, which does not conveys some ethical message and enables men and women to live a nobler life with harmony to achieve ānanda? In short, Jaina examples of art aim at elevating our spirit, inspiring to observe rules of value based conduct laid down in Jainism. Jaina art so far as the temples and Jina images as well as the images of Bharata and Bāhubalī are concerned, give a value based social message of renunciation, non-acquisition and non-violence. A Jaina temple showing the assimilation of the Jina and other divine figures including Brahmanical deities like Vişnu, Śīva, Lakşmī-Nārāyaṇa, Balarāma-Revatī, Kāma-Rati, Aștadikpālas, Navagrahas on the walls, śikhara and other parts was the symbol of socio-religious harmony to give the message of ānanda, anekāntavāda and respect for other faith-dharma. The sanctum sanctorum and the main icon