Worshipping a Jain image at the Jain Centre, Leicester.

Worshipping a Jain image at the Jain Centre, Leicester.

Worshipping a Jain image at the Jain Centre, Leicester.

Worshipping at the Jain Temple in Kenton, London.

Worshipping at the Jain Temple in Kenton, London.

A woman worshipping at the Jain Temple in Kenton, London.

A worshipper at the Jain Centre, Leicester.

A worshipper at the Jain Centre, Leicester.

A worshipper at the Jain Centre, Leicester, meditates using a rosary.

A young girl at the Jain Centre, London.

A young girl at the Jain Centre, London.

A young girl making an auspicious symbol using rice at the Jain Centre in Kenton, London.

The swastika symbolises four different types of life in to which one is born: humans, animals, hellish beings and celestial beings. The three dots represent enlightened knowledge, enlightened faith and enlightened conduct. The crescent represents nirvana, the final abode of every soul.

Jain nuns at the V&A.

Jain nuns at the V&A.

Jain nuns visiting the V&A, Autumn 1995 wearing traditional white robes and face masks.

Since ahimsa (non-violence) is a very important Jain discipline, some monks and nuns wear face masks to avoid accidentally inhaling small organisms.