This section allows our readers to share their thoughts on Jainism and invites original articles from Jain professionals, practitioners, students, and scholars of Jainism. You can send your articles/write-ups/opinions in a Word file to us at info@isjs.in.

This edition features an article titled “The Language of Meditation: A Catalogue of Mantras in the Jñānārṇava” by Ms. Pragya Jain, Research Associate, ISJS.

This article demonstrates that padastha-dhyāna (meditation on sacred syllables and mantras) is far more than a practice of repetitive mantra recitation. Based on the 11th-century Sanskrit treatise Jñānārṇava by Ācārya Śubhacandra, the range of mantras reveals a sophisticated contemplative system in which language is transformed into a disciplined means of cultivating concentration, purity, and self-awareness. By systematically organizing these meditative supports (ālambanas), the Jñānārṇava offers a glimpse into the richness of the Jain contemplative imagination and its understanding of the relationship between sound, meaning, and spiritual experience. It is hoped that this compilation will serve as both a practical reference and an impetus for further inquiry into one of the most distinctive and intellectually rich aspects of the Jain meditative heritage.

The facts and the views expressed in the article are solely those of the author. Readers wishing to share questions and comments may contact the author directly at pragyajain@isjs.in.