________________
244
MOKSHA MARG PRAKASHAK
due to fear of misery and greed of pleasures; hence, it is assuredly vice(Papa). Likewise, in many ways, they worship the Jyotishi Devas - stellar kinds of celestial goods, which too is a fallacy.
Further, goddesses, Devees and Daharees, etc. are found there; many of them are Vyantarees (peripatetic goddesses and Jyotishinees (stellar goddesses). People worship them with contrary belief of their characteristics. Several of them are imaginary goddesses, yet people worship them on the basis of their imaginary characteristics.
Thus, worshipping Vyantara gods-goddesses, etc. is forbidden. · Denial of Worshipping Kshetrapal, Padmavati
etc. Someone may say here that no fault lies in worshipping the Kshetrapal, Dahari, Padmavati, etc. goddesses Yaksha-Yakshini etc. because all of them follow Jainism?
Answer : In Jina's religion worshipability is acquired by accepting and following the continence (vows), etc. but continence is not at all found in Devas (celestial beings). And people worship these by believing them as true believers; but in Bhavanatrikas (residentials, peripatetic and stellars - 3 kinds of celestial beings) there is no prominence of possessing right belief. If people worship these Devas presuming them to possess right belief then why not to worship the gods of Sarvartha Siddhi heaven and Laukantika Devas (of fifth heaven) who certainly possess right belief? You may further say-“These Kshetrapal Padmavati etc. are excessively engrossed in Jina's adoration”. But Saudharma Indra also indulges in Jina's adoration excessively and also possesses true belief; why then to worship these (Kshetrapsl, Padmavati, etc.) by ignoring him? Further, if you will say-"As the king has chamberlains as attendants so also the Tirthankaras have Kshterapalas, etc. as attendants.“ But in Samavasarana (preaching arena of omniscient Lord) these Kshetrapalas, etc. have no status; hence all such belief is false. Moreover, as the chamberlains help the visitors in meeting the king, similarly, these (Kshetrapalas, etc.) do not have any role in arranging meeting with the Tirthankaras. In the case of Tirthankara whosoever has the desire to worship he can have His Darshan (Sighting). There is no question of dependence on any one.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org