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 207

JAINA CONCEPT OF GOD IN JAINA THEISM
191
The Uttarādhyayana-sūtra is also one of the four Mūla-sūtras of Jaina canonical literature. It is supposed to contain the last sermons of Lord Mahāvīra. The sermons of Lord Mahāvīra constituted into 36 chapters. It is the last expression of the last Tīrthankara, Lord Mahāvīra. In this scripture, at number of places Mahāvīra has been addressed as Lord or God of Jaina, an omniscient. The entire eulogy (vīratthui) is an example of the Jaina conception of God and its theistic approach towards life and reality. 119 (7)Yogasāra
This is an authentic text comprising 206 verses into five sections. In its very first section the nature of Jaina God is described; and in the very first time of its third verse it says: "This very soul in its pure form is God. It narrates the nature of God and says, "This God is worshipped, mentally through the fulfillment of vows and physically through “Bhakti” and “Pūjā'. From Nyāya-Vaišeșika point of view all liberated souls are one. Such Gods (liberated souls) thought numerically many are all having infinite power and infinite bliss and thus are qualitatively only one..
120
To such a pure form of soul the Lord Tīrthankara, whether you call him Lord Buddha or Visnu or Brahmā or Mahādeva or you call him Jinendra. It makes no difference. Thus Yogasāra provides number of instances supporting Jain concept of God and Jain's nature of theism. 21
(8)Adhyātmasāra
The central theme of this work is "Soul is one”. The Adhyātmasāra at the end defines God and says, “One who has attained absolute knowledge, detached from the worldly activities, annihilated all-the karmas and has attained Siddhhood is God.":122
"Uttarādhyayana-sūtra, Ch. 36 “Virathui" 120 Dr. Hemant Shah (HS), “Jaina Theism" (1997), P-150 12. Yogasāra, 3, 13 and 36, (HS, P-150 & 151) 122 Adhyātmasāra, 24, (HS, P-151)