Jain symbols

Jain symbols are symbols based on the Jain philosophy.

Swastika

Swastika is an important Jain symbol. The four arms of the swastika symbolize the four states of existence as per Jainism:

It represents the perpetual nature of the universe in the material world, where a creature is destined to one of those states based on their karma. It also represents the four columns of the Jain Sangha: sadhus, sadhvis, sravakas and shravikas - monks, nuns, female and male laymen. It also represents the four characteristics of the soul: infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite happiness and infinite energy.

Symbol of Ahimsa

The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes Ahimsa in Jainism. The word in the middle is "ahiṃsā" (non-injury). The wheel represents the dharmachakra, which stands for the resolve to halt the saṃsāra through relentless pursuit of Ahimsa.

Jain emblem

In 1974, on the auspicious 2500th anniversary of the nirvana of the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira, the Jain community at large collectively chose one image as an emblem to be the main identifying symbol for Jainism. Since then, this emblem is used in almost all of Jain magazines, on wedding cards, on Jain festival cards and in magazines with links to events related to Jain society.