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RELIGIOUS SECTS
extend this number to twenty-four for a given period, and enumerate by name the twenty-four of their past age, or Avasarpini, the twenty-four of the present, and the twenty-four of the age to come. The statues of these, either all or in part, are assembled in their temples, sometimes of colossal dimensions, and usually of black or white marble. The objects held in highest esteem in Hindustan are PÁRÁVANÁTH and Mahávíra, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth Jinas of the present era, who seem to have superseded all their predecessors.
The generic names of a Jaina saint express the ideas entertained of his character by his votaries. He is Jagatprabhu, lord of the world; Kshinakarmá, free from bodily or ceremonial acts; Sarvajna, omniscient; Adhiśvara, supreme lord; Devádhideva, god of gods; and similar epithets of obvious purport; whilst other's are of a more specific character, as Tirthakara, or Tirthankara, Kevali, Arhat, and Jina. The first implies one who has crossed over (Tiryate anena), that is the world, compared to the ocean; Kevali is the possessor of Kevala, or spiritual nature, free from its investing sources of error; Arhat is one entitled to the homage of gods and men, and Jina is the victor over all hunan passions and infirmities 1.
1 तीर्यते संसारसमुद्रो ऽनेनेति तीर्थ तत्करोतीति तीर्थकरः । सर्वथावरणविलये चेतनस्वरूपाविर्भावः केवलं तदस्यास्ति केवली । सुरेन्द्रादिकृतां पूजामर्हतीत्यर्हन । जयति रागद्वेषमोहानिति जिनः ॥
These Etymologies are from Hemachandra's Commentary [to śl. 24. 25., p. 292, ed. Boehtlingk and Rieu).
