Mobile Communities and Representations of Sacred Locations

Lynna R. Dhanani explores how the mobility of Jain lay communities—many of whom were merchants—has influenced the representation and circulation of sacred sites. As Jains traveled across India and the globe, including to East Africa, the UK, and the U.S., they brought devotional images with them. These portable representations of stationary sacred sites served as reminders of Jinas and their liberation, helping maintain devotional connection across distances and generations.

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  • Lynna Dhanani wearing a brown turtleneck, smiling, with a bookshelf behind her

    Lynna

    Dhanani

    Assistant Professor

    Religious Studies, University of California, Davis