Due to different beliefs and traditions, one observes that the image of fire has a different symbolic meaning to the different philosophies of the Indian tradition. The Vedic tradition recognizes fire with the God Vishnu and also regards it as the liaison between men and heavenly figures. Fire has a different meaning to a Jain Monk and a layman. Like the hindus, the layman uses fire for poojas, in different rituals and b

A Jain Monk lives a very ascetic life. Fire has no place in the life of the monk; a jain monk stays away from fire all the time. Jains are known as fervent supporters of ahimsa and asceticism. According to Jain doctrine, the whole cosmos is alive and every grain and rock on the earth, a fire-being, every drop of rain has a soul attached to it. Soul attains freedom from the cycle of rebirth only when it had rid itself of all the bad karma:

Hence, a jain monk has to renounce everything in the world, including fire. One should never light fire and even refrain from extinguishing fire as this actuallly leads to the killing of fire itself. Hence, through the example of fire, the reader observes the extreme asceticism and the extreme ahimsa of Jainism and the monks complete isolation from material things of the world. In contrast, similar to the common hindus, fire plays an integral part in the common Jains world. The Jains use fire in sacred poojas, marriages and also offer ghee and rice grains to the sacred fire while chanting mantras while meditating.

"Through the concomitance of three factors--

And quickly goes out again." (174 Sources of Indian Tradition).

Some topics in this essay:
Buddhist Upaanishads, Sutrakrtanga Sutra, Indian Tradition, Ramayana Hence, Mahayana Buddhist, Jainism Buddhism, Jain Monk, Nirvana Hence, Sanskrit Literature, Tradition Hindus, vedic hymns, jain monk, indian tradition, sources indian, sources indian tradition, attain happiness, bad karma, fire examples, fire rituals, natural forces, reader observes, vedic hymns upanishads, control body actions, mahayana buddhist fire, fire examples explicate,