Jainism the Creed for All Times

SR No.: 006564
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D S Baya
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 74

The Theism Of Jainism -
According to the orthodox Indian philosophies, believing in the teachings of the Vedas, Jainism is a heterodox atheist religious philosophy that does not believe in the existence of a trinitist God, who is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the world and who, thereby, controls the destinies of everything and every being. However, in the context of the Indian religious philosophies, this premise is self defeating as the Mīmāmisă philosophy, which is accepted amongst four orthodox theist philosophies also does not accept God as creator and stands with Jainism in refutation of the postulate that God is at the root of everything that exists. Actually, theism is a type of religious philosophy that incorporates a conception of God as a unitary being and everything in the world as a part-manifestation of His omniscient omnipresent omnipotence. However, Jainism believes in plurality of souls and maintains that all those souls that attain ultimate purity by irresidual separation from karmic bondage, gain omniscience, omni-vision, infinite bliss and infinite spiritual prowess and become Godheads. The Jaina concept of Godheads, however, does not subscribe to the theory of their reincarnation or their involvement in mundane affairs of guiding the actions and the destinies of the worldly beings as the perfected souls (Siddhas) are totally without attachment (Vītarāga) and do not have any wish or will of their own. They also do not, therefore, reincarnate to settle any untoward worldly affairs.
Against this backdrop, the Jaina concept of theism is that the religious philosophy that believes in the existence of the soul that keeps taking rebirth as long as it is in its mundane form and is responsible for its actions and the inevitable retribution thereof; the soul that is its own master and that, by its suitable actions and when the time ripens, by completely shedding the karmic bondage becomes a 'Perfect being' or Godhead. It is, therefore, not a Unitarian religious philosophy but a Pluralistic one.
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