Dravya Sangraha

SR No.: 001270
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nemichandramuni
Publisher: Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir Trust
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 101
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Principles
File Size: 7 MB

Page 9

Dravya - Ś am graha
The first verse of this work is nothing but the usual Mangalacharan, in which the author salutes Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jainas, He is called here the Eminent One among the great Jinas. The word Jina literally means "the Victor'. One who has freed himself from the bondage of Karma by conquering
Raag (attachment) and Dvesa (Aversion) is called a Jina by the Jainas. In Buddhist scripture the word Jina is often used as a synonym to Buddha. In the lexicon called Amarakosa and in popular Sanskrit literature, the use of the word Jina is to signify Buddha is too common The Buddhists take the word Jina to mean one who has conquered. Mara. But the word Jina is used in a special sense by the Jainas The Ganadharas or disciples of the Tirthankaras and the Tirthankaras themselves are known as Jinas. Jinendras, Jinesvaras, etc.
Lord Mahavira has been saluted at the beginning of almost all he later works of the Jainas. Here it is said that he is worshipped by the Indras. Indras are Gods who possess special excellent powers Pitagi'ferte zapr: Tattvartha-raja-varttika by Akalanka Deva. IV 4. 1.) According to Jaina eschatology there are four kinds of Gods dwelling in four different spheres, known respectively as Bhavana, Vyantara, Jyotisa and Vaimanika. The Vaimanika region is again sibdivided into Kalpa and Kalpatita spheres. Indras are a higher order of Gods who dwell in Bhavana, Vyantara and Jyotisa regions and the Kalpa sphere only of the Vaimanika region. There are no Indras in the Kalpatta sphere.
Besides these Indras among Gods there are also others among men and among the lower animals.
There is a difference of opinion between the two principal sects of the Jainas as to the number of Indras. "The Svetembaras assert that there are twelve heavens and sixty-four Indras;" but "the Digambaras maintain that there are sixteen heavens and one hundred Olympian monarchs (Indras).” From a verse found in most of the commentaries on Digambara Jaina works, we learn that "there are