aį¹£į¹­amaį¹…gala

Miniature from the <em>Kalpa-sÅ«tra</em>The aį¹£į¹­amaį¹…galas, or eight auspicious Jaina symbols, seen above and below the seated image of the Jina (savior), miniature from the Kalpa-sÅ«tra, 15th century; in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

aį¹£į¹­amaį¹…gala, eight auspicious symbols frequently represented on Jaina ritual objects. Aį¹£į¹­amaį¹…galas are common to both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara sects and are found on 1st-century-ad votive slabs and in miniature paintings, as well as being employed in Jaina worship today. In the modern Jaina temple they are seen carved on the offering stands. Women devotees also form the symbols out of uncooked rice when making an offering to the Jina images. Although there are various traditions, the eight symbols are usually considered to be (1) darpaį¹‡a (mirror), (2) bhadrāsana (throne), (3) vardhamānaka (powder vase), (4) kalaśa (full water vessel), (5) matsyayugma (pair of fish), (6) śrÄ«vatsa symbol, (7) nandyāvarta (an elaborated swastika), and (8) swastika.

Citation Information
Article Title: aį¹£į¹­amaį¹…gala
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 27 September 2011
Access Date: November 13, 2026