Jain Theism

SR No.: 006509
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Hemant Shah
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 218
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 10 MB

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Jain Theism
all knowing through his self-culture and supreme moral efforts..... This conception of God, not only as an omniscient being but as a man, struggling for and finally attaining through continuous efforts, both subjective and external, self-perfection, is unique in Jainism."?
Even in the BỊuhad Dravyasmgraha by Nemicandra whose commentary is written by Sri. Bhramadeva, the nature of God is discussed, and it has been shown how he becomes Vishnu, Para-Brahma, Išvar, Sugata, Jiva, Jina etc." The Jain Yogsāstra describes God as omniscient, blissful, unconditional, pure, unperceptible, and full of infinite virtues." The Dravyasamgraha describes God as the soul who is totally free from the four Karmas that destroy the qualities of completely or partially (i.e. Ghati Karmas) and one who has attained infinite apprehension, infinite power, infinite omniscience and infinite bliss i.e. ‘Ananta catuştayas' (the four infinites), without body from Niscaya and free from the eighteen defilements."10
Thus we find the Jain God all powerful, having infinite apprehension, infinite knowledge and infinite joy. Besides it is pure in the sense that it is free from all the defilements and is worshipped by all. Like all the rational religions, Jainism maintains that man alone is the creator of his own destiny and dispenses with the hypothesis of the world creator. 8.2.2. Prayer, Worship, Rituals
Of course the central idea in any system that claims itself to be 'theism' will be God." The power of theism can only be revealed where the idea is revealed of a God whose will, which is supreme, is love and righteousness."! A Jain God, Arhat as we call, is full of compassion for every soul. “For theism to be possible man must be cognized as a self- determining agent, whose character is not eternally fixed, but for whom the future may be a land of hope and promise. He must be one who can, God helping him, break the bonds of habit, and enter into the experience of a moral victory that is really his, and the God who he knows must be one who can bring him into such an
7. Bhattacaryaji, H.S. Jain Moral Dectrine, (19 ) P. 75-76 8. Nemicandra's Brubad, D.S. : Commentary by Brahmadeva p. 55. 9. Yogasastra - 69 10. Dravya Samgraha - 50 11. Macnicol N., Indian Theism, p. 227