________________ 14 STAGES OF SPIRITUAL ELEVATION 229 Those at this stage are known as Arihants, whom we offer obeisance by the first line of Namokkar Mantra. They continue to remain embodied as long as Aghati (non-defiling) Karmas, viz. Aushya (age span), Nam (physique determining), Gotra (status determining) and Vedaniya (situations conferring) stay. Being fully enlightened and devoid of any attachment, they do not incur new bondage. If Aghati Karmas terminate simultaneously with Ghati ones, the Arihant instantly leaves the embodiment and attains the stage of Siddha. Such Lords are known as Antahkrut Kevalis. The rest of Kevalis may spend the remaining part of their lives in propounding the religious tenets, and at the end they attain the stage of Siddha, the state of liberation. FOURTEENTH STAGE: This stage is known as Ayogi Kevali meaning the unembodied omniscience. The thirteen stages mentioned above are analogous to the rungs of a ladder. By climbing over it, one reaches the state liberation. That state is the destination, not a rung of the ladder. When a Sayogi Kevali (omniscient Lord at the 13th stage) realizes that the end of his life is near, he relinquishes his physical, vocal and mental faculties. Freed from those faculties, the soul rises up and reaches the top of cosmos known as Siddhashila (abode of the liberated ones). There it stops, because there is no Dharmastikay beyond that point. The rising process is very quick; it takes as little time as is required for uttering five short vowels. That period constitutes the 14th stage. Thereafter the liberated Lord stays in eternal bliss forever. 000 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
