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## The Form of a Deva
**Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verses 3 to 44.**
**5. Doubtful (Sāṃśayika):** When a person remains in a state of doubt regarding Deva, Guru, and Dharma, wondering "Is this true or that true?", there is Doubtful Mithyatva.
**5. Non-Experiential (Anābhōgika):** Just as one-sensed (Ekaindriyadi) beings are devoid of thought and special knowledge, similarly, when a person's mind becomes inert and does not think about Samyaktva or Mithyatva, there is Non-Experiential Mithyatva.
Thus, there are five types of Mithyatva. (Pancha San. 186)
Here are some verses regarding Mithyatva:
"Mithyatva is a great disease, Mithyatva is great darkness, Mithyatva is the great enemy of the soul; Mithyatva is great poison. Disease, darkness, and poison cause suffering only once in life, but if the disease of Mithyatva is not treated, it causes suffering for thousands, millions, and billions of births. The soul whose mind is enveloped in deep Mithyatva does not know the difference between truth and falsehood. How can a blind person from birth know the beauty or ugliness of any object? ||3||
Now, describing the characteristics of Deva and Adeva, Guru and Aguru, and Dharma and Adharma, we first describe the form of Deva. 60.
**"Sarvajño Jitragādidoṣastrailōkyapūjitaḥ | Yathāsthitārthavādī ca Devō'rhan Paramēśvaraḥ ||4||"**
**Meaning:** The Deva, Arhan, or Paramēśvara is the one who knows all, has conquered the vices of attachment, aversion, etc., is worshipped by the three worlds, and speaks the truth as it is. ||4||
**Explanation:** Four excellences are considered essential for the Deva-tattva. They are: 1. Excellence of Knowledge (Jñānātiśaya), 2. Excellence of Freedom from Suffering (Apāyapagamātiśaya), 3. Excellence of Worship (Pūjātiśaya), and 4. Excellence of Speech (Vachanātiśaya).
By describing the Deva-ādhideva Arhan as "Sarvajña" (all-knowing), the excellence of his knowledge is indicated. He knows all beings, non-beings, and other principles. However, his knowledge is not like that of other philosophers whose scriptures contain contradictory statements. Other philosophers say, "Look at all the things in the world, whether you see them or not, see the desired principle. How many insects are there in the dung of insects? What use is this knowledge to us? See far and wide or not; we should only see what is useful to us. If those who see far are to be considered as evidence, then worship the vultures who have farsightedness." (Prā. Vā. 1/33-35)
But Jain philosophy says, "The knowledge of a desired object cannot be obtained without the knowledge of all objects. Without the comprehensive knowledge of every principle, both in its ordinary and extraordinary forms, in relation to other principles, no single principle can be known with its characteristics and its opposite, in terms of affirmation and negation."
It is also said, "He who has seen one principle in all its forms knows all principles (all principles in the form of substance, category, and modification) in essence; he who has seen all principles in all their forms has seen one principle in essence."
The second epithet, "Jitragādidoṣaḥ" (who has conquered the vices of attachment, aversion, etc.), indicates the excellence of freedom from suffering of the Bhagavan Deva-ādhideva Arhan. Apāya means obstacle or vice. It is well known throughout the world that vices like attachment, aversion, lust, anger, greed, and delusion are obstacles to self-realization, they pollute the soul, and therefore they are vices. Therefore, Bhagavan Deva-ādhideva has overcome these vices and conquered them forever.
The implication is that Arhan Deva has banished all these vices forever. Many people who are ignorant of this principle say, "It is just a verbal embellishment to say that a man is free from attachment, aversion, etc." But this statement is erroneous. How can one who has not conquered the vices of attachment, aversion, etc., attain the Deva-ādhideva-tattva? Therefore, it is not even possible to imagine that Arhan Deva is possessed by attachment, aversion, etc.
The third epithet of Arhan Deva, "Trailōkyapūjitaḥ" (worshipped by the three worlds), expresses his excellence of worship. A person cannot be considered a Deva simply because of the worship and devotion offered by a few deluded beings of good intellect; rather, the true sign of Deva-tattva is when the Devas of the moving and stationary worlds, the Asuras, and the intelligent humans who speak various languages of different countries, all become united in friendship, abandoning their mutual racial hatred, and even the animals compete to enter into their presence.