This rectangular red satin cover is the back cover of a manuscript and may date back to the late 19th century. An ornate border embroidered on all four sides functions as a frame. There are eight finely sewn pictures in individual compartments.
Moving from left to right, the images are as follows:
These are the eight auspicious symbols – aṣṭa-mangala – of the Śvetāmbaras. The symbols are found in Jain religious tradition. Together with the 14 dreams of the mother of a Jina-to-be, they have frequently decorated manuscript covers – pāṭhuṃ in Gujarati – since the 18th century.
In this case, the 14 dreams are depicted on the front manuscript cover.
A book is bound, which means it has a spine into which the pages are glued or stitched so a reader can easily turn over the pages. A traditional manuscript is made up of loose sheets of paper. Earlier manuscripts were created from palm leaves or similar material. The sheets were tied together using strings passed through holes in each sheet or folio so the reader could turn them over easily.
A manuscript is unbound but sometimes has a manuscript cover to protect it. This has two parts, one at the beginning, the other at the end. Manuscript covers are made of paper, cloth, cardboard or wood. They can be decorated and painted.
Pictures and brief explanations of the eight auspicious symbols according to the Svetāmbara sect are provided by the HereNow4U website. The explanations of some of the items are not necessarily the same as those given in JAINpedia and other sources.
Drawings and short explanations of the eight auspicious symbols according to the Svetāmbara sect are provided by the Jain Belief website. The order of the items is slightly different from that given in JAINpedia and other sources.
The website Namoka Tirth provides explanations for the common Jain symbols. Unexpectedly, this Digambara organisation offers the Śvetāmbara list of eight auspicious symbols.
Note that some of the website's assertions are not accepted by professional scholars because there is no indisputable historical proof. An example here is the dating of the first Jina, Ṛṣabha.
As with many Jain websites, the use of diacritics and transliterations here is inconsistent and does not meet academic standards.
A svastika formed out of traditional clay lamps – dīpas in Sanskrit – is arranged on the petal-strewn floor of a temple during the festival of Paryuṣaṇ. The svastika is an ancient symbol of good luck and is frequently found in Jain temples, on religious equipment and on books, clothing and so on. The four dots among the arms of the svastika represent either the four states of existence or the parts of the fourfold community. Lasting eight days in late August or early September, Paryuṣaṇ is the most important Śvetāmbara Jain festival. This photograph on Flickr was taken in 2007.
This slideshow features photos of idols, auspicious symbols and scenes from the Śvetāmbara pilgrimage site of Mount Shatrunjaya. Taken in 2009, these photos are on the HubPage of Jyoti Kothari.
Jains commemorate the final liberation of the 24th Jina, Mahāvīra, in the festival of Dīvālī in late September or October. At Dīvālī, as in other festivals, statues and temples are lavishly decorated, as shown in this 2007 Flickr photograph of the Katraj temple in Pune, Maharashtra. Lights are festooned everywhere during the 'Festival of Lights', with both electric lighting and traditional clay lamps – dīpas – used. Examples of the ancient auspicious symbol of the svastika, with four dots representing the Jain community or the four states of existence, are clearly seen either side of the temple entrance.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darvekar/1978597664/in/set-72157603105954957/
Victoria and Albert Museum. IS.50-1983. Unknown author. 19th century
British Library. Or. 11921. Unknown author. 1488
British Library. Or. 13959. Unknown author. 1639
British Library. Or. 13700. Unknown author. 1445
Wellcome Trust Library. Gamma 3. Unknown author. 1503