This 13.5-feet high granite statue of Shri Bhagwan Mahavir, sitting on a rock, shaped like a lotus, facing the Qutab Minar and a ruin of a Muslim Shrine, was inaugurated on Monday 19 November 2001. Mahavira was the last of 24 monks establishing the principles of Jainism. All 24 monks are represented by similar statues, no difference, only the symbol under the statue indicates which monk. Under Mahavira is the symbol of the lion.

To be a Jaina means to follow Mahavira as the model. In fact, the statues don't really represent real people anymore, their qualities are important.

Some thoughts under the Statue of Lord Mahavir,

no wonder that Jainism and Buddhism have a lot of similarities as they are based on monks who wondered for the ultimate truth in the vedas. Early Jain inscription were found in Tamil Nadu dating from the 2nd Century BCE while early traces of Buddhism were found in the 3rd Century BCE. Both seek to attain the total freedom of the soul bound to your karma determent by your good and bad deeds.

The daily prayer of a Jain:
I bow to the enlightened souls
to the liberated souls
to religious leaders
to religious teachers
to all monks of the world
indicates like in Buddhism not really a God but a way of living in admiration of some great thinkers, monks in search for the truth.

Osho, a very popular Rolls-Royce Guru(°31-*90), rejects any religion:
the truth should be found in yourself.
Following great masters or religions is untrue to yourself, artificial, the way of the mediocre, the stupid, the fool.

With many thanks to RP Jain, guiding me around in the world of Jains bringing me here early morning with sunrise.