Source Book in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001263
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Devendramuni
Publisher: Tarak Guru Jain Granthalay
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 590
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 10 MB

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A SOURCE-BOOK ÉN JAINA PHILOSOPHY philosophical in content. The main problems of Vedic aryans were concerned with the worldly problems. Their outlook was to live a happy life in this world. The Vedas contain hymns addressed to the gods for getting the benefits of the world. Occasionally, the Vedic seers have expressed flashes of philosophical insights.
The main problem connected with philosophical study in the Vedic speculation was cosmic. A pertinent question was asked : 'What is the source of this Universe ? This was peresented with reference to the many Gods who were personalised forces of nature. In these discussions, we may however trace the philosophical development in the Rgveda in the direction of thought from 1. naturalistic polytheism to 2. monotheism in which the conception of benotheism as suggested by Maxmuller may also be included, and 3. monism. Naturalistic polytheism was the first current of philosophical thought. The phenomena of nature were symbolised as Gods and they were worshipped. For instance, Varuna was the sky God. Mitra his companion. Sürya is the sun God. Savitra is the solar God and there were a host of many other Gods - about three hundred and thirty three were worshipped.
There was the idea of Ria. It was the conception of the order in the universe. It is a cosmic principle. Varuna is considered to be the custodian of this principle and it has been suggested that the doctrine of karma developed from the principle of Rta. From the naturalistic polytheism, evolved the monotheistic tendency. As we have seen earlier, Maxmuller mentions little intermediate stage of henotheistic tendency, by which one God became prominent for sometime. The highest position was granted to Vigvakarman in the Rgveda at a later stage. Similarly, Prajāpati attained the highest rank.
Monotheism developed out of the tendency of the philosophic mood of the Vedic seers. In the contemplative mood, the seers asked some pertinent questions : What is the source of this universe ? and who has been the first born ?.' These questions lead to the philosopbic development of monotheism. The philosophers and the Rgveda presented the monistic thought in their one famous statement : The ultimate reality is one and the wise call it by many names,1
1
ekar sat viprā bahudhā vadanti agaim, yamam mātariśvam āhuḥ.