Ashtamangal

The Ashtamangal are the eight auspicious symbols of Jainism, drawn before the Tirthankar idol and on the first page of many Jain books: the swastik, shrivatsa, nandyavarta, vardhamanaka, bhadrasana, kalash, darpan and matsya yugal. Everything here helps a child recognise and draw them: colouring rolls and colouring books, a matching game, cradle hangings for the newborn, and wooden and printed frames for the puja room or the front door.

The colouring items are a standard pathshala activity and an easy prabhavna for any children’s programme, and a framed Ashtamangal is one of the most common housewarming, wedding and Diwali gifts in a Jain home.