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69
This statement is against the original scriptures and the relevant Agamas, and it is not logical.
1
Mature scholars like the authors of Pramey Kamal Martanda, etc., do not expect such statements or such weak arguments from them, and therefore, their opinion is appropriate. There is no doubt that this statement of the commentary is highly objectionable, and the statement made in it about the attainment of fruits by worshipping the ruling deities is completely ignored from the theoretical point of view of Jain principles and is just like misleading children. Because, just as a Chakravarti is stained with attachment and aversion, has a finite family, is pleased to see the respect and honour of his family, listens to the words of his family members, accepts their recommendations, and willingly punishes or favours someone, the same situation does not apply to Arhanta, etc., the desired deities. Such things do not happen in them - they are free from attachment and aversion, their soul does not feel pleasure or displeasure at the worship or disregard of anyone, the ruling deities are not associated with them as a family, they do not listen to any recommendations of the ruling deities, and they do not willingly punish or favour anyone - the secret of fruit attainment by them is different. Apart from this, because the ruling deities are born in the world, they do not have the capacity to be worshipped by the devotees (Shravakas) from a religious point of view; being on the side of religion, they themselves should worship those who are established in a higher position than themselves in the religion of the Shravakas, not ask the Shravakas to worship them. As for the worship from the point of view of obtaining worldly blessings, even the commentary itself considers it to be corrupt; then from what point of view should they be worshipped, it is not understood at all. If they are worshipped from the point of view of being a fellow religionist or because of being on the side of Jainism, then all Jains become worthy of worship; then there is no special significance in the worship of the ruling deities. And it is not possible that any ruling deity can overturn the theory of karma or go against the theory of karma.
* To get some experience of this secret of fruit attainment, one should refer to the 'Upasana Tattva' written by the author, which has been published by the Jain Granth Ratnakar Office.