Framing the Jina : Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History

John Cort explores the narratives by which the Jains have explained the presence of icons of Jinas (their enlightened and liberated teachers) that are worshiped and venerated in the hundreds of thousands of Jain temples throughout India. Most of these narratives portray icons favorably, and so justify their existence; but there are also narratives originating among iconoclastic Jain communities that see the existence of temple icons as a sign of decay and corruption. The veneration of Jina icons is one of the most widespread of all Jain ritual practices. Nearly every Jain community in India has one or more elaborate temples, and as the Jains become a global community there are now dozens of temples in North America, Europe, Africa, and East Asia. The cult of temples and icons goes back at least two thousand years, and indeed the largest of the four main subdivisions of the Jains are called Murtipujakas, or "Icon Worshipers." A careful reading of narratives ranging over the past 15 centuries, says Cort, reveals a level of anxiety and defensiveness concerning icons, although overt criticism of the icons only became explicit in the last 500 years. He provides detailed studies of the most important pro- and anti-icon narratives. Some are in the form of histories of the origins and spread of icons. Others take the form of cosmological descriptions, depicting a vast universe filled with eternal Jain icons. Finally, Cort looks at more psychological explanations of the presence of icons, in which icons are defended as necessary spiritual corollaries to the very fact of human embodiedness. "Through an insightful study of Jain narratives ranging over fifteen hundred years, John Cort explores the imaginative ways in which Jains have explained the presence of icons of hundreds of thousands of Jina icons in temples throughout India. A majority of Jain narratives revere and celebrate the icons, and so justifiy their existence. Narratives originating among iconoclastic Jain communities, however, perceive the existence of temple icons as troubling signs of decay and corruption. These alternative narratives view them as false idols, not holy icons." "Cort examines in detail the most significant pro- and anti-icon narratives. Some narratives take the form of histories of the origins and spread of icons; others consist of cosmological descriptions, depicting a vast universe filled with eternal Jain icons. Cort even delves into psychological explanations of the presence of the icons, in which icons are defended as necessary spiritual corollaries to the very fact of human physicality."--BOOK JACKET Frontmatter Note on Language, Transliteration, Names, and Mendicant Titles (page xi) Illustrations (page xv) Introduction: Icons, Idols, and Revolution (page 3) I. The Archaeology of Jina Images (page 17) 2. A Cosmos Filled with Eternal Icons: Icons, Cosmology, Mandalas, and Scripture (page 67) 3. The Spread of Icons in Our World (page 113) 4. The Lifetime "Living Lord" Icon of Mahavira: Anxiety about the Authenticity of Icons (page 155) 5. Idols and a History of Corruption (page 217) 6. The Inevitability of Tangible Form: A Natural Theology of Icons (page 247) Conclusion: Framing the Jina (page 273) Appendix: Titles of Jain Texts (page 283) Notes (page 287) Glossary (page 333) Bibliography (page 337) Index (page 379) John Cort Explores The Narratives By Which The Jains Have Explained The Presence Of Icons Of Jinas (their Enlightened And Liberated Teachers) That Are Worshiped And Venerated In The Hundreds Of Thousands Of Jain Temples Throughout India. Introduction: Icons, Idols, And Revolutions -- The Archaeology Of Jina Images -- A Cosmos Filled With Eternal Icons : Icons, Cosmology, Mandalas, And Scripture -- The Spread Of Icons In Our World -- The Lifetime Living Lord Icon Of Mahavira : Anxiety About The Authenticity Of Icons -- Idols And A History Of Corruption -- The Inevitability Of Tangible Form : A Natural Theology Of Icons -- Conclusion: Framing The Jina. John E. Cort. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Lives, frames, terms The archaeology of Jina images Icons and cosmology : a cosmos filled with eternal icons and temples The spread of icons in our world The lifetime "living Lord" icon of Mahavira : anxiety about the authenticity of icons Idols and a history of corruption The inevitability of tangible form : a natural theology of icons Framing the Jina.