These are eight auspicious symbols –
- Swastika
- Shrivasta (an auspicious sign on the chest)
- Nandhyavarta (complex swastika)
- Vardhamanaka
- Bhadràsana (a holy seat)
- Kalasha (Holy pitcher)
- Minyugala (Fish-couple) and
- Darpana (Mirror).
They have been considered auspicious since time immemorial and have been depicted in the Kalpasutra. According to the scriptures every Jain has to draw them with pure un-broken rice-grains before the icon of the Tirthankar. Some have reduced this custom to the drawing of a swastika, along with three heaps of rice-grain symbolising knowledge, vision and character.