YJ International Newsletter 2004 Vol 18 No 01

Author(s): Young Jains (UK)
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 17

Dot... to... Dot
Hidden below is the symbol most International Jain organisations have adopted to represent the Jain tradition. The symbol is built from Jain principles and belief. The overall shape represents the Jain view of the cosmos from the spiritual point. Its outline is in the shape of a person standing with legs spread wide and hands on the waist. The bottom part, up-ended triangle, represents the seven 'hells', the waist the middle world, where our world is situated, and the top hexagon represents the 'heavens'. At the top of the heavens, in the shape of a crescent, is the Sidh Shilla where liberated souls who have shed all their karma reside. Within the hexagon are three circles representing the Jain path to purity through the 'three jewels' i.e. through Samyag Darshan (right or true/pure perception), Samyag Gnaan (right or true/oure knowledge) and Samyag Charitra (right or true/pure conduct). Below that is the Swastika, the four arms of which represent the four realms- types of life- (gati) in which the worldly soul, which still has karma attached to it, takes birth in
a body. These four types of life are Hell beings, Animal beings, Heaven beings and Human beings. In the upended triangular section is the palm of a hand, with 'Ahimsa' written in the middle, representing friendliness. The palm signifies that 'I fear no one and I do not create fear in others'.
Liberated (pure) souls
This must be the top, called.........., where the Sidh bhagwans live
I wonder which gati
this is? It must be .....
1 know this one. It is the
gati
On the left is an incomplete diagram of the Jain symbol. To complete it, join the black dots in the following order:a)1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,1
b) 9,12,13,14,17 c) 11,10,13,16,15.
Then fill in the blank spaces in the text boxes. All the information can be found from above.
Kids Korner
Oxo
2
15
OO
10
16
17
17
KIDS
These three circles must represent the three jewels 1) Samyag 2)...... Gnaan and 3).
I think this is the ...... gati
This must be the ....... gati
5
by Narendra Shah
KORNER
Hope you had a lovely Christmas