Jain Journal 1980 01

SR No.: 520057
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 37
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 29

JANUARY, 1980
here on account of its comparison with a fire sprinkled with ghee, they have chosen to interpret it as "jīvanmukti”, a state of worldly existence which is absolutely free from ill-will and attachment. They further explain that in such a state the soul blazes forth with the flame of penances like "a fire sprinkled with ghee".
A modern authentic edition of the Uttarajjhayaṇasutta,1 annotating upon the term “nivvāṇa” in this context says that this term here should rather mean blazing forth than extinction-end of the cycle of birth and death. The commentator further explains that the term "nivvāṇa" embraces the following meanings :
(1) Emancipation — mukti,
(2) Emancipation in life—jivanmukti, and
(3) A state of physical health and well-being.
All the three states, the commentator adds, correspond to a state of spiritual blaze. Thus according to this commentator "nivvāṇam paramam jāi, ghayasitti vva pāvae", means goes to a state of great spiritual blaze, like a fire sprinkled with ghee."
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Following this line a recent translation2 renders "nivvāna" as "a state of spiritual blaze". In any case the term "nivvāṇa" in this context has somehow to denote "blaze" to agree with the simile "a fire sprinkled with ghee" for, as the former annotator confesses, the general meaning of the term "nivvāṇa" viz. extinction, does not agree with the simile "a fire sprinkled with ghee".
A famous indologist3 tried to tilt the table the other way in a seminar. So far efforts were made to impose the sense of blazing upon the term "nivvāņa". This scholar tried to elicit the sense of "extinction" from the final foot of the verse. He suggested that the term "ghayasitti vva" may be "ghaṭasitti vva" and may mean "sprinkled with pitcherfuls" (of water). It seems to be an off-hand suggestion and does not call for any serious consideration for "ghata" instead of implying pitcherful of water may as well imply pitcherful of ghee or oil or any other liquid. As a matter of fact fire can only be sprinkled with some liquid and not
1 Published by the Terapanth Mahasabha.
By Sadhvi Sri Chandanaji.
Alsodort (at a Seminar in Poona)
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