Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

SR No.: 006918
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2012
Total Pages: 358
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 181

JAINA CONCEPT OF GOD IN JAINA THEISM
popular God, in Jainism, it is empirical, a reality and attainable to everyone. Thus, Jainism has a perfect realistic concept of God, a pure soul, with a total theism.
God according to Jainas is the symbol of good and great, moral and virtuous. He is not in any sense responsible for creating, preserving and destroying the world as well as for the destiny of the universe or individual. Nor is He capable of granting grace to any individual. Nor He Himself is eternally free, but has worked out his own freedom exactly in the way as others do.
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Attributes of God that all religions more commonly hold with a few differences are: without age, without death, without birth, without measure, without impurity, without form, unthinking, uncountable, Brahma, Lord, infinite, immutable, lord of ascetics, full of knowledge, stainless, unchangeable, undeceiving, supreme lord, supreme goal, controller, bliss, self-existence, incomprehensible, knower of present, past and future, lord of universe, immovable, imperishable, etc.'
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2. Arhat
Arhat literally means 'adorable.' The word Arhat is variedly referred to as 'arhanta' or arihanta. Arhat is vītarāgī, i.e. free from rāga (attachment). Arhat is Jina, he who has conquered the anger, deceit, greed and pride. He is one who has destroyed the seeds of all karmas and possesses infinite knowledge and bliss." Arhat is He who has attained omniscience (kevala-jñāna) and is still associated with the corporeal body. He remains in the world till the end of his lifetime. He is the lord of three world according Jaina scriptures.
3. Tirthankara (Ford maker)
75Muni Shri Nyāyavijayji, “Jaina Philosophy and Religion", 1998, P-31 Acharya Ghasilal, Āvaśyaka-sūtra, P-46 and Dr. Ajay Kothari
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Samana Suttaṁ Cayanika, 7