Account of Jainism

Author(s): Unknown
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 80

An Account of
But his mind is so ablaze with criticism that he could begin nowhere with closed eyes. So he asks himself at his very first step, why should I call you my God? Is it your entrance into this world accompanied by all the splendour of Indras and more, that entitles you to my homage? Is it your power to work through the sky? The plain answer is in the negative. These may be the powers of an enchanter, says the Acharya. Do then the two classes of mahodayas (e. g. good form, immunity from physical pains etc. ) constitute your claim to our reverence? Here also the answer is, no; for, it is argued, such glories may be found in the heavenly deities who are still haunted by passions. Are you then our God by being the founder of a religion? No. There are others too who have founded religions. Thus he goes on discussing one after another the various attributes that are considered the essence of true godlyness by some school or other. Finally the conclusion arrived