Jinvani


In Jainism, Jinvani means the message or the teachings of the Jina. It is made up of two words Jina and Vani. 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, and is also personified as Jinvani Maa. The omniscient form of Jina-Vani 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 are generally referred to as Jinvani, as well as Srutu 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 sriptures.