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 31

INTRODUCTION
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Considering countless misrepresentation and misconception about Jainism, which are still persisting, even now and then, there are a few scholars who have made favourable remarks about Jaina and Jainism which are enumerated herein.
Dr. John Murphy, Professor in University of Manchester in his book, "The Origin and History of Religions' made a remark about scholarly work of Mrs. Stevenson's 'The Heart of Jainism' where she said: “There is a strange mystery in Jainism; for though it acknowledges no personal God, knowing Him neither as creator, father or friend, yet it will never allow itself to be called atheistic system. Indeed there is no more deadly insult that one could level at a Jaina than to call him a nāstika or an atheist."4!
Shri V. R. Gandhi, who accompanied Swami Vivekananda in the ‘Parliament of World Religions' held in Chicago in 1893, said in his speeches and writing that, “Jaina is generic as Christ. We believe that there is not one Christ but many Christ born in all countries." 48
Professor Ramjee Singh maintains that God is nor cognizable by sight, perceivable by senses or visible neither. He can be known by inference, then where is the question of acknowledging God of whose existence is speculated or hypothesized. Hence, Jainism believes a soul can become God (Paramātmā)."'
1. (iv) The Two-Fold Division of Indian Philosophy Āstika (Orthodox), Nāstika (Heterodox)
The Indian Philosophy has been classified by Indian thinkers, predominantly Brahmins, in six systems, viz., Gautama's Nyāya, Kaņāda's Vaišeșika, Kapila's Sāṁkhya, Patañjali's Yoga, Jaimini's Pūrva Mīmāṁsā and Bādarāyaṇa's Uttara Mīmāṁsā or the
4'Dr. John Murphy, “The origins and History of Religions”,
Manchester University Press, 1949,P-446 48V. R. Gandhi, “Speeches & Writing”,P-4 *Dr. Ramjee Singh, Jaina Concept of Omniscience, L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad, 1974