Key of Knowledge

SR No.: 006702
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1919
Total Pages: 1204
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 283

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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
resurrection of the dead in this passage, but, on the contrary, a direct refutation of all such notions. The doctrine of resurrection was not unknown to the Jews, and the Pharisees actually believed in it. Before them it was well-known to the Egyptians (see the Book of the Dead), who had probably borrowed it from the Persians. But the original of the Lord of the Judgment Day is to be found in the god Yamaraja of the Hindu Mythology, who weighs the merit and demerit of creatures on their death and disposes of them accordingly. This gentleman, the god Yamaraja, is a personification of Justice, in so far as he judges the respective merits and demerits of souls, and of karma,* with respect to the award of punishment and
*The brilliant Hindu poetical genius to which we are indebted for the magnificent character of Yama, as the impersonation of Justice, that is to say, of natural Law than which nothing can be more unerring, has also given us the no less interesting 'personality' of Yami, his twin-sister, who implores him to accept her hand in marriage, but is refused with righteous indignation. She is the personification of karma-phala (the fruit of karma), as distinguished from karma, conceived in the abstract as the principle of causation inhering in the actions of living beings. Now. as karma-phala really means a modification of the condition of the soul, it cannot be thought of apart from the soul, i.e., as residing in the actions of men and other living beings, though it can never come into existence except in connection with karma. Thus, the relationship between karma and karma-phala is no more intimate than that they spring into being simultaneously. Hence, is Yama the twin brother of Yami, but not her husband. Again, as karma and karma-phala are produced by the soul only when it is in a condition of impurity and never when the impurity is gone, they are said to be the offspring of Surya, the Sun (the symbol of omniscience, hence, pure spirit), and Saranya (impurity, maya or matter) before she was forced to run away from him, on account of his excessive glory."