$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 125

CONDUCT
C01 - Pancha Paramesthi
According to some, all Kevalis are called Arihanta because they have destroyed their four inner enemies. However, in the Navakär Mantra, the word Arihanta refers only to Tirthankar Kevali. All those who attain omniscience attain liberation upon nirvana, and these liberated souls are now known as Siddhas. Thus, all kevalis, whether or not they are Arihanta, become a Siddha upon nirvana. The Siddha stage is the ultimate stage for the soul. It is important to understand that the Arihanta stage precedes the Siddha stage for Tirthankars, which means that Siddhas are more spiritually advanced. However, since Siddhas have attained ultimate liberation, we do not have access to them. In the Navakär Mantra, obeisance is first offered to Arihantas because Arihantas devote their remaining lives to preaching and guiding us to the path of liberation. Without their
preaching and guidance, nobody can attain liberation. At the time of Nirvana (liberation from the worldly existence), Arihantas shed off the remaining four Aghäti (Non-destructive) karma:
Näm (Body Determining) Karma Gotra (Status Determining) Karma Vedaniya (Feeling Pertaining) Karma
Ayushya (Life-span Determining) Karma These four karmas do not affect the true nature of the soul; therefore, they are called Aghäti karma. They are related to the physical body of the soul. Tirthankars were human beings like us who went through the cycle of birth and death, accumulating Karma. One of the Karma they earned was the Tirthankar Näm-karma. One acquires this Näm-karma by having an intense desire of spreading the message of compassion towards all living beings, anekäntaväda, non possessiveness and self-control to all living beings. This Näm-karma is determined two lives prior to the life they attain Moksha. This karma matures in the third life, where they attain Keval-jnän. For example, Shäntinäth Bhagawan attained Tirthankar Näm-karma in the tenth life (Bhav) when he was born as Prince Megharath. He attained Keval-jnän in his twelfth life (Bhav) as Shäntinäth. Samavasaran
Samavasaran (assembly hall) is a place from where Tirthankars preach religious sermons to the people.
The Samavasaran is a three-layered circular structure with a sacred Ashok tree at its center. It is created for a Tirthankar's sermon soon after he attains Keval-jnän.
The Samavasaran is either circular or square. There are three enclosures. The lowest one is made of silver, the middle one is made of gold, and the uppermost is made of precious stones like diamonds. The lower most enclosure serves as a parking ground for heavenly beings and human beings, the middle one is meant for animals, and the third and the uppermost is where heavenly beings and human beings listen to the sermon. The sermon is delivered to ascetics, lay people, heavenly gods, and animals. During the sermon, a Tirthankar always faces East, but the Devas (heavenly gods) create three replicas of him facing the other three directions, so that the assembly of heavenly beings, humans and animals can see and listen to a Tirthankar's sermon no matter where they are sitting. Tradition has it that once an Arihanta (Jina) attains Keval-jnän, he gives sermons several times a day in the local language of the people. When the 24 tirthankars of this time period gave sermons, they
delivered them in the common language of the time, which was Ardha-magadhi Präkrit. Twelve Attributes of Arihantas
Tirthankars have 12 unique attributes called Atishayas. The first four attributes are manifested in the Tirthankar upon attaining Keval-jnän and the later eight attributes, known as Pratihärya, are endowed by heavenly gods once the Tirthankar attains Keval-jnän.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 125 of 398