SOAS Research Online

A Free Database of the Latest Research by SOAS Academics and PhD Students

[skip to content]

Flügel, Peter (2015) 'Jaina Funeral Palanquins.' Jaina Studies: Newsletter of the Centre of Jaina Studies, 10. pp. 21-28.

[img]
Preview
Text - Draft Version
Download (7MB) | Preview

Abstract

In contrast to the solemn funeral of a common Jaina lay person, whose dead body is carried by male family members to the funeral pyre on a simple bier, in a lying posture, covered from head to toe by a shroud, the funeral of a Jaina ascetic, who purposefully purified and finally “liberated” the soul from its fetters to achieve salvation or at least a better rebirth, is a joyous occasion. The corpse is carried on the shoulders of leading male representatives of the local Jaina community, behind an orchestra playing exuberant tunes, in a decorated funeral palanquin, resembling a royal litter. The article retraces the history and functions of this custom in the context of the development of Jaina monastic funeral in general and analyses the iconography of the funeral palanquins, variously designated as śibikā, vimāna or baikuṇṭḥī.

Item Type: Journal Article
Keywords: Jaina funeral palanquin, Jaina monastic funerals, Jaina processions, siviyā, sīyā, śibikā, vimāna, baikuṇṭḥī, nirharaṇa, Āvassayanijjutti, Jambuddīvapannatti, Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra, Ṛṣabha, Buddha, Ācārya Tulsī, Ācārya Mahāprajña, Ernst Waldschmidt, André Bareau, siviya, siya, sibika, vimana, baikunthi, nirharana, Avassayanijjutti, Jambuddivapannatti, Mahaparinirvanasutra, Rsabha, Buddha, Acarya Tulsi, Acarya Mahaprajna, Ernst Waldschmidt, Andre Bareau
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of Religions & Philosophies
Legacy Departments > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Department of the Study of Religions > Centre of Jaina Studies
ISSN: 2059416X
Copyright Statement: With permission of the editors.
Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2015 09:58
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/19609
Related URLs: http://www.soas ... /file100226.pdf

Altmetric Data

There is no Altmetric data currently associated with this item.

Statistics

Download activity - last 12 monthsShow export options
Downloads since deposit
6 month trend
369Downloads
6 month trend
649Hits
Accesses by country - last 12 monthsShow export options
Accesses by referrer - last 12 monthsShow export options

Repository staff only

Edit Item Edit Item