Jain Journal 2001 10

SR No.: 520144
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 49
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 38

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXVI, No. 2 October, 2001 the root bhaj, in the sense of sevāyām, to serve, also points to its dynamic aspect, and this meaning is accepted in Jainism.
Service and Devotion
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According to Nisītha-cūmi, to rise from one's seat in honour of the ācārya, to serve him by holding his staff, wiping his feet, offering him seat, etc., are all bhakti2 In Jainism service is called vaiyavṛtya, and it is stressed that bhakti must be associated with, and find expression in, vaiyāvṛtya. According to Śivaryakoți,3 bhakti towards the five adored ones of Jainism, viz., arihanta, siddha, ācārya, upadhyayaand sadhu, and in dharma, can be performed by service alone. He who serves the adherents of the tri-ratna, viz. the right faith, conduct and knowledge, performs bhakti towards the whole Jain religion. Acarya Kundakunda1 also exhorts the monks to undertake the tenfold service with devotion.
According to another definition, service is equated with humility, or vinaya, (sevāyām bhaktir vinayaḥ seva).5 To honour the monks, to stand from one's seat on seeing them, to salute them with folded hands, to follow them, to offer them seat, to massage their feet, etc. -all come under both vinaya and vaiyāvṛtya.
Devotion and Love
These are, however, external expressions of bhakti. Essentially bhakti is love: love for the ideal and towards him who practises it. According to Acārya Pūjyapāda,6 pure love towards the arihanta (prophet), the ācārya (preceptor), the tenets and the scriptures is bhakti. An eminent Jain poet-saint sang :
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Jinadasgani, Nishitha-Churni, edited by Vijay Prem Surishwara, quoted by Dr. Premsagar Jain in Jain Bhakti Kavya ki Pristhabhümi, Kashi, Bharatiya Jnana Pitha, 1963, p. 2.
Sri Sivaryakoti, Bhagavati Aradhana, Muni Shri Anantakirti Digambara Jain Granthamala, 8, Hirabag, Bombay, Vikram Samvat 1989, p. 152, quoted by Premsagar Jain, (ibid.) p. 4.
Quoted by Premsagar Jain, (ibid.) p. 3.
Abhidhana-rajendra-kosha, Part V, p. 1365.
अर्हदाचार्येषु बहुश्रुतेषु प्रवचने च भावशुद्धियुक्तोऽनुरागो भक्तिः ।
Acharya Pujyapada, Sarvartha Siddhi, edited by Pt. Fulchand, Bharatiya Jnana Pitha, Kashi, Vikrama Samvat 2012, p. 339.