Jain Temples and Pilgrimage PDF

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Jain Temples and Pilgrimage Seated Jain Tirthankara (saint) ● Solanki period (900-1250 CE) ● First half of the 11th century ● Gujarat or Rajasthan, white marble ● Shares many iconographic similarities to the Buddha image Buddhism and Jainsim ● Both began in Magadha region ● -Share concepts: karma, samsara, maya ● both opposed to vedic caste system and meaningless rituals ● Nontheistic (Mahavira and Buddha are not ‘gods’ in the literal sense) Jainism ● Mahavira (“great Spirit”, 563-483 BCE) o Similar time period to buddha ● 24 Jinas (conquerors) o Rishabhanata (first Jina) to Mahavira (the historical, final Jina) ● Tirthankaras (“the ones who lead to the other shore”) o *tirtha: refers to sacred sites o literally translates to crossing (between mundane and sacred) ● Goal: liberation of the individual soul from matter o Also like Buddhism ● Two sects: Digambara (“sky-clad”) and Svetambara (“white-clad”) o More austere religion than Hinduism o Taking life is strictly forbidden- restricted their professions (ie no army) ▪ Majority are merchants, traders, and bankers ● Sky-clad: monks/nuns who are completely naked ● White-clad: monks/nuns dressed in white o The above statue was svetambara, wore white loincloth Jain pilgrimage sites ● Near trade centers, many in western india ● Mathura was early center of Jain art o Kushan period, 2nd century CE o Sometimes impossible to distinguish a Jina from Buddha Jain Images ● Shrivatsa o Mark on Tirthankara’s chest o Main distinguishing feature from Buddha images o Depicted as an ascetic

o Often static/ sitting position- idea of nonviolence Colossal statue of Bahubali ● 10th century, south India o Karnataka, 948 CE ● Digambara (sky-clad) sect, completely naked ● Standing, but still motionless/ inactive o The figure is wrapped with vines, as if he’s been standing still for a long time o Has rigid posture ● Rituals involved in this image are similar to hindu ones o Pouring liquids/powders over the image ● There are differences between Jain and Hindu rituals o In Hinduism, there’s an emphasis on priests performing rituals o In Jainism, it’s more about an individual’s completion of the ritual, less emphasis on priests o No concept of darshan in Jainism ▪ Jinas are transcendent beings, are not in this world Siddhapratima Yantra ● Object with only the outline of a Jina, indicating their transcendence ● This kind of object only exists in Jainism Jain temples ● Similar spatial layout to Hindu temples, but has more requirements for shrine images o Moves in axial direction, has mandapa ● Parshvanatha Temple, Khajuraho, c. 975-1000 o Something different about the superstructures- has extra section in the back o Shrine added late 19th century/early 20th century o Originally a hindu temple, section added when Jains took it o All the windows are closed of to create more space for shrines inside Multiplicity and spatial complexity ● Has several super structures ● Has 24 shrines, one for each Jina ● Built very closely together, almost looks smooshed o Looks almost like a fortress o You can see this in Jain temple dedicated to Adinatha (first Jina) ▪ Ranakpur, Rajasthan, 1437-1453 o Jain temples in Shatrunjaya Gujarat, Western India ▪ Has plain walls ▪ From outside you can’t see the complex interior Mount Abu region

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Located in area with many hills and lakes Vimala Temple, Mt Abu, Rajasthan Completed 1032, repaired 1300 Solanki dynasty o Jains had many high positions under this dynasty Founded by Vimala, minister to Solanki king Extremely intricate details on the inside, although the outside looks very plain o Carvings in marble An open courtyard lets natural light in 52 subsidiary shrines circling the courtyard Desgin and concept o Represents the assembly hall of the Jinas in heaven ▪ Called the Samavasarana ▪ Concentric design, similar to the mandala image ▪ Jina also gave a first sermon after enlightenment, gave it in this assembly hall o The mandapa ceiling is a concentric circle, also resembles mandala ▪ The ceilings are referred to as the canopies of the heavens The Jinas are almost indistinguishable from each other unless specifically identified The temple art is very similar to Hindua and muslim art o The sculptors were not necessarily Jain

Five central events in the life of a Jina: 1. Descent into his mother’s womb (14 auspicious symbols dreams) 2. Birth 3. Renunciation 4. Enlightenment 5. Death a. Death is particularly auspicious is Jainsim, symbolized liberation from the mortal world The places of these events are pilgrimage sites. Shatrunjaya ● One of the main Jain pilgrimage sites, western India ● Pilgrimage sites have a main temple, but many smaller temples as well ● Celebratory experience ● People from all levels of society go o Activity shared by lay and monastic community ● In Gujarat o Site of first sermon of Rishabha (or Adinatha) the first Jina ● Large site, occupies two hills ● The temple at the highest point is the temple dedicated to Adinath o 16th century temple

● There’s a tradition of representing pilgrimage sites on cloth paintings o Called pata o 1875, map of Shatrunjaya o mainly from late 18th-19th centuries o very large paintings o they are also considered as ritual objects o considered embodiments of the sacred site it depicts o iconographical features ▪ peacock, snake, Pandava brothers from Hindu epic Mahabharata...