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34 / Lord Mahavira
9.
Arhat
He who has destroyed enemies or passions is called an arhat. He who has qualified himself for the attainment of nirvana is described as an arhat. The word is common to both Buddhism and Jainism. Buddha as well as Mahavira are called arhats. The Jaina and the Buddhists pay homage to all arhats. An arhat is free from four destructive karmas. An arhat is also possessed of thirty four kinds of extraordinary glories, such as extra-ordinary powers of body, knowledge, vision, and energy etc. He is devoid of eighteen kinds of defeats such as hunger, thirst, fear, aversion, attachment, illusion, anxiety, old age, disease, death, sorrow, pride etc. According to Jainism, an arhat is an ideal saint, a supreme teacher and an omniscient self. Those who are fully devoted to him get emancipation. His presence is supremely enlightening. He is an embodiment of perfect knowledge, bliss, power and peace.
