Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Bhagavān Mabāvīra
the form of innate knowledge. A man who has no direct knowledge of the self cannot practise religious conduct. His behaviour cannot be free from attachment, aversion, and delusion. There can be no emancipation (mokşa) except through religious conduct. Mokșa can be achieved only after attachments and aversions have been eradicated. One who has not achieved emancipation cannot attain nirvāņa (liberation).
The first step in the journey to nirvana is spiritual vision or self-knowledge. Bhagavān Mahāvīra said, "See the truth. Do not depend only on wbat I say, but develop your own spiritual vision."
Animate and Inanimate
There are two fundamental substances in the universe, animate and inanimate. The universe is neither absolutely of the nature of soul, nor absolutely of the nature of matter. It is both--spiritual and material. Both the kinds of substances (animate and inanimate) of which the universe is composed have their independent existence. Neither is the inanimate born of the animate, nor the vice versa. There is an infinite number of animate substances or living beings. Existence of every living being is independent of every other living being. There are five kinds of inanimate substances :
1. dharmästikäya the medium of motion. 2. adharmästikäya the medium of rest. 3. akāśāstikaya the container substance or space. 4. kāla
the cause of change or time. 5. pudgala the substance having touch, taste, smell
and colour.
Asrava (Cause of the Influx of karma) and Bandha (Bondage of karma)
Once Indrabhūti Gautama asked Bhagavān Mahāvīra :