Buddha & Jain

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Buddha

Jain

If you look carefully at the statues from two different religions, you will notice many things that are the same. The only main difference is that Buddha is wearing a robe, and Jain is naked.

Buddha

Buddha statues often sit peacefully thinking. Other features are seen in the 32 marks of Buddhahood, such as:

	elongated ear-lobes, showing how Buddha's ears were stretched from wearing jewels from when he was a Hindu prince
	the religious robe, often with a high roll collar
	the whorl of hair between the eyebrows, showing the third eye of spiritual vision
	the bump on the top of his head, showing Buddha's special wisdom or superhuman knowledge. This is often shown as a flame.

He is sitting on the lotus-petal throne supported by lions (which shows kingship). His right hand is held out offering peace, and he holds the end of his robe in his left hand.

Jain

Jains, the followers of Mahavir, obeyed four basic rules:

	non-violence
	truthful speech
	no stealing
	no jealousy

They were not allowed to do any work that might take life. This included farming, because even tilling the ground which has life wasn't allowed. They therefore were often businessmen. After a year of wandering and preaching, Mahavir threw away his loin cloth and went naked, which is why Jain statues are always shown naked.

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