Book Title: Bright Ones in Jainism
Author(s): J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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Page 21
________________ ( 15 ) CONCLUSION. The Jaina description of Gods is a somewhat incomprehensible and seemingly unproveable theme. The Gods (Devas) are really an enlarged and fluidified edition of man. Their abodes are in pairs above Mount Meru, which like the navel in man, is in the centre of the middle World; and they are situated in pairs like the ribs of man. Above the last of the 16 heavens, we have the 9 graiveyakas, (literally those heavens which are in the neck (Griva)], in three parts of three layers each. Then follow the 9 Anudisa, all in one layer. These are topped by the 5 Anuttaras, which slightly correspond to the 5 openings i. o. 2 eyes, 2 nostrils and one mouth of the human face. The whole is oapped, as is fit, by the crown of Siddha Kshetra or the halfmoon-like dome of the region of the Liberated, which corresponds to the forehead or top-crown of the human head. The whole universe is aptly represented by the form of a man, standing akimbo, with hands on hips. " It is not impossible to view the whole thing partly as an allegory of the human form divine, a Macrocosm of the Universo roughly evolved from the human microcosm. But the comparison, though interesting, is imperfect and superficial. The Jaina Gods live and are as detailed above. According to Jainism, the details given here are literally true and not merely allegorically by so. Victory to Jaina Sidhanta !!! Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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