Studies in Jainism

SR No.: 002008
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M P Marathe, Meena A Kelkar, P P Gokhle
Publisher: Indian Philosophical Quarterly Publication Puna
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 284
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 16 MB

Page 270

A NOTE ON JAINA MYTHOLOGY
255
having a constant fourth area of time cycle and so even now there exist the Tithankaras. And hence these three, excepting the Devakuru and Uttarakuru in the Mahavideha are called the Karma bhumis and the rest countries are called Bhoga bhumis. Devakuru and Uttarakuru have always susama-susama-the first Āra out of the six Aras. The Harivarṣa and Ramyakavarṣa have always the second Ara-the Suṣama. Haimavata and Hairanyavata have always the third Ara-the Suṣama duṣamā. Mahāvideha in its two parts, the east and west-Videha has always the fourth Ārā-the Dusamă suṣama and Bharata and Airavata have possibility of the full cycle of the time i. e. all the six Ārās. Thus we can see that different countries are connected with different areas of time cycle.
So far we have described the madhyaloka-the middle of the universe. Below this there is Adholoka-the lower world which have the Narakas- the hells and the upper portion of the middle of the universe is called urdhvaloka-the upper world having various types of abodes of the Gods. On the top or at the end of the Loka is the abode of Siddhas, the liberated souls. Thus I have surveyed the mythology about the Universe. For details one should read the canonical Texts like Jambudvipaprajñapti and the later texts like Tattvārtha, Tiloyapannatti etc.
DISCUSSION ON THE TWO PAPERS
(Dr. Malavania explained some points in Hindi)
डी. डी. मालवणिया :
जैन धर्मका जैसा जैसा आगे विकास होता गया, जैसे जैसे ग्रंथलेखन का आगे विकास होता गया वैसे यह भी विचार आया कि मूर्तिपूजा नहीं होनी चाहिए । इसपर यशोविजयजी आदि बहुत लिखा है । मूर्ति का और मूर्तिपूजा का विरोध करनेवालों से उन्होंने कहा : स्थापना को आप विरोध करते हैं, आप स्थापना की पूजा नहीं करेंगे, स्थापना को नहीं मानेंगे तो आप जो 'नमो सिद्धाणं, नमो अरिहंताणं' आदि जपते हैं यह क्या चीज है ? यह भी एक तरह की स्थापना ही आपने कर रखी है । अतः आपको अगर मूर्ति की पूजा नहीं करनी है तो यह नमस्कार, नाम और मंत्र छोड़ दीजिए । जो भगवान् नहीं मानते और जो हरेक बात गुरु से समझ के अपने आप कर सकते हैं उनके लिए मूर्तिपूजा की कोई