Jaina Epistemology

SR No.: 006738
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 516
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 442

Direct Knowledge
417
mūka-kevalios, ( dumb) who cannot speak. They are far from pūjātiśaya ( excellence is worship ) and vāgatiśaya ( excellence in speech). The eight external embellishments are particular to Tirtharkaras. The other arhats, who rise from the position of a common man do not possess them. The Buddhists attribute omoiscience also to Bodhisattva only as his exceptional merit. The Jainas hold it as common.
According to Svetāmbaras the activities of an arhat, just as cating, walking, speaking and others are similar to ordinary men. But, the Digambaras hold exceptions in them also. An arhat does not take his diet from the solid food. He gets it from other stuff through supernatural power. He does not feel hunger or thirst. His speech does not come from mouth but sprouts from the entire body; with an inarticulate sound; which is understood by all the audience in different languages. It is said that the same sound turns into seven hundred different dialects. The Svetāmbaras hold that a Tirtharkara gives bis sermons in Ardhamāgadhi, the dialect spoken on the borders of ancient Magadha and Kośala. It is, perhaps, because, the last two Tirthankaras flourished in that region. The Other Differences between an Arhat and Ordinary Kevalios
We have discussed above, yoga as the distinguishing factor between the thirteenth and fourteenth gunasthānas. The same makes a distinction between an arhat and siddha.
The difference between the kevalin in fourteenth gunasthāna and the siddhas is that the latter is without physical existence. The former possesses it without any activity. The siddhas possess eight qualities :
(1) Ananta Jñāna-Infinite knowledge (2) Ananta Darśana-Infinite perception (3) Avyābādha Sukha - Infinite bliss (4) Aksaya sthiti-Permanent existence (5) Kṣāyika samyaktva ---Right attitude resulting from the
destruction of karmans
1 Prayacanasāra I. 44.