In
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
, Jinvani means the message or the teachings of the Jina (''arihant''). It is made up of two words ''Jina'' (
arihant) and ''Vani'' (voice). Often the words are spelled out separately or put together as "Jinavani" in publications. It is depicted in various forms, such as "Jinwani" which may be a
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...
(or a village in India, by coincidence), and is also personified as ''Jinvani Maa'' (Mother Jinvani). The omniscient form of Jina-Vani (relative to
Kevala Jnana) is said to be a letterless speech, when emanating from an arihant, which is understandable by all present, in their own language, as it is transformed into lettered discourse. In literature, discourses of the tirthankara (or
jineshwar) are generally referred to as Jinvani (or Jin-Vaani), as well as Srutu
Jnana (or Shrut Jnana), meaning scriptural knowledge.
Depiction
There is a statue of
Saraswati Devi, goddess of knowledge, having Jinvani in her hand on Lotus behind the Peacock in the
Shantinath Jain Teerth. Likewise, she may be referred to as ''Jinavani'', for presiding over Jaina scriptures.
See also
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God in Jainism
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Jain epistemology
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Jain literature
Jain literature () refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the canonical ''Jain Agamas'', which are wri ...
*
Jinvani Channel
Notes
References
Jain texts
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