Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

Page 252

Concept of God in Jainism
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Vişnu as a sustainer and Mahesa as destroyer. They are omnipresent,
at and omniscient. The bearers of this concept argue that the world is looked upon as a product or effect and since it consists of components so it must have a maker, His action in creation is solely caused by a compassion. He punishes and rewards according to karmas of the living beings. Contrary to this, no such supreme element as a cause of this universe has been accepted in Jainism. They distinctly deny such a extra cosmic personal being.
Accordingly concept of God as a creator is strongly refuted by Jaina scholars!? They argue, if God created the world, where was he before creating it? How could a formless or immaterial substance like God can create the world of matter, and if matter existed before, why not to take the universe as eternal. It is presumed that like Muktātmā(freed soul) the god is also disembodied, if it is true, no action would be possible in that state. How can a formless being create the well formed world. If God is self sufficient, He has no need to create the world. There is no motive on the part of God to create the world, and if there is motive, it would vitiate His omnipotence. If God created the world as mere play of His will, it would be making god childish and then He may not be called 'Aptakāma' (free from all desires). If he has desires, He has created the world out of His grace, He would not have brought into existence the misery, poverty, disparity, etc., and there is no excuse for God to such a patent compassion to create this world full of misery and sin. As it is further argued that everything that exists must have a maker that himself would, stand in need of another maker and in this way He will be landed in infinite regress.
Jainism holds that God may not be in the root of all that exists. It postulates a theory that this universe has neither beginning nor end, for its existence all the being themselves and no body else is accountable. In Jainism the very place of God is wholly assigned to the law of karma. It believes that the wheel of this world moves on and on due to karmic effect of the living beings of the world's. The Vedic almighty god's management is also regulated by karma, as he punishes and rewards according to karmas of living beings. Peculiarity of Jainism is that it holds only to the karma, a motive force of the world.