Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

, Samavasarana or Samosharana ("Refuge to All") is the divine preaching hall of the

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...

, stated to have more than 20,000 stairs in it. The word ''samavasarana'' is derived from two words, ''sama'', meaning general and ''avasara'', meaning opportunity. It is an important feature in Jain art. The Samavasarana seems to have replaced the original

Jain stupa The Jain stupa was a type of stupa erected by the Jains for devotional purposes. A Jain stupa dated to the 1st century BCE-1st century CE was excavated at Mathura in the 19th century, in the Kankali Tila mound. Jain legends state that the earli ...

as an object of worship.

Samavasarana Hall

Lord Risbabhdev in Samosharan on Mount Kailash

In samavasarana hall, the ''tirthankara'' sits on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around the tirthankara sit the ''

ganadhara In Jainism, the term Ganadhara is used to refer the chief disciple of a ''Tirthankara''. In '' samavasarana'', the ''Tīrthankara'' sat on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around, the ''Tīrthankara'' sits the ''Gana ...

s'' (chief disciples). Living beings sit in the following order: *In the first hall,

ascetics Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

*In the second hall, one class of

deva Deva may refer to: Entertainment * ''Deva'' (1989 film), a 1989 Kannada film * ''Deva'' (1995 film), a 1995 Tamil film * ''Deva'' (2002 film), a 2002 Bengali film * Deva (2007 Telugu film) * ''Deva'' (2017 film), a 2017 Marathi film * Deva ...

ladies *In the third hall, ''

aryika ''Aryika'', also known as ''Sadhvi'', is a female mendicant (nun) in Jainism. History In the traditional Digambara tradition, a male human being is considered closest to the apex with the potential to achieve liberation, particularly throu ...

s'' (nuns) and laywomen *In the next three halls, three other classes of deva ladies *In the next four halls, the four classes of devas (heavenly beings) *Men, in the eleventh hall *Animals, in the last hall According to Jain texts, there would be four wide roads with four huge columns,

Manasthamba A manastambha (Sanskrit for 'column of honour') is a pillar that is often constructed in front of Jain temples or large Jain statues. In North India, they are topped by four Tirthankara images. According to the ''Digambara'' Jain texts like ''Ad ...

(literally, pride pillar), one in each side. The total size of the hall varies depending upon the height of the people in that era. The size of

Rishabha Rishabhanatha, also ( sa, ऋषभदेव), Rishabhadeva, or Ikshvaku is the first (Supreme preacher) of Jainism and establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain co ...

deva's samavasarana was .

Effects

In samavasarana, a tirthankara sits facing the east, but appears to be looking in all directions. Tirthankara sits on a soft cushion while preaching the

Jain philosophy Jain philosophy refers to the ancient Indian philosophical system found in Jainism. One of the main features of Jain philosophy is its dualistic metaphysics, which holds that there are two distinct categories of existence, the living, consciou ...

in plain terms. All

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, cultu ...

s and

animal Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals consume organic material, breathe oxygen, are able to move, can reproduce sexually, and go through an ontogenetic stage ...

s can understand the discourse. Jain scriptures say that all creatures who listen would become less violent and less greedy. The speech of the tirthankara is distinctly heard by every one present.

Gallery

Jain manuscript page with Mahavira teaching to all creatures, western India, c. 1500-1600, gouache on paper, HAA.jpg, Jain manuscript page with Mahavira teaching to all creatures in Samavasarana, western India, c. 1500–1600, gouache on paper Samosarana Mysore.jpg, Samavsarana of Mahavira as depicted in 19th-century art from Mysore. Samavasarana painting from 1800 AD Rajasthan.jpg, Painting of Samavasarana (Assembly hall) of a Jain Tirthankara. It depicts various beings who come to hear the preachings of the Jina peacefully Samosharan.jpg, Samosharan depiction

References

Citation

Source

* * * *

External links

Article with Picture of Samavasarana
Jain philosophical concepts Jain belief and doctrine {{Jainism-stub