Comparison of Jain Architecture and Idols in India and England: From Antiquity to the Diaspora

This research explores how Jain sacred buildings and depictions of Tirthankaras have developed over time, tracing their journey from ancient India to communities settled in Britain. On the Indian subcontinent, Jain places of worship began as simple rock-cut caves before evolving into elaborate complexes such as Dilwara and Palitana — renowned for fine marble craftsmanship, layered symbolic meaning, and a gradual shift from abstract markers to anthropomorphic Tirthankara figures. Statues developed in parallel: moving from basic symbols to carefully standardised forms that give visible shape to the faith’s core ethical principles: ahimsa (nonviolence), anekantavada (plural perspective), and aparigraha (non-possession). In Britain, purpose-built Jain temples are a relatively recent development, shaped by post-war migration and the gradual establishment of settled diaspora communities. These buildings draw deeply on traditional Indian design principles, while also responding to UK planning regulations, limited urban space, and modern construction methods. Most sacred statues remain carved by skilled artisans in India and imported to Britain, preserving centuries-old iconographic conventions even in new cultural and spatial contexts. Across both settings, this study argues that Jain architecture and sacred images function as living bridges: they safeguard core religious identity while adapting creatively to new circumstances. By examining how these material forms sustain continuity across geographic and cultural divides, the work contributes to scholarship on South Asian sacred architecture, diaspora cultural formation, and the material study of religion.