Bright Ones in Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 7

THE BRIGHT ONES IN JAINISM.
(Svarga Loka.)
THE GODS.
THE word “God” means the highest Ideal Being, which can
I be conceived by the human mind. In Jainism, this Being is called "Siddha”, or the realised, liberated, disembodied Soul.
The lesser beings, i.e. embodied or mundane Souls according to Jainism, are of four kinds. (1) Human, (2) Sub-human, animals, plants, etc., (3) Hellish, and (4) Celestial. These last are called the Deva (bright kind of beings, the BRIGHT ONES). I call them “The Gods”, and propose to give a very brief account of them. . The Devas (Celestials) “are so-called because they always amuse themselves with their eight heavenly acquisitions, and have shining heavenly constitutions.
The eight heavenly acquisitions of the celestials, which are theirs by nature, are the following :1. Anima— this enables them to make their body very small. 2. Mahima- is the opposite of the first and helps them to
extend their bodies to any dimensions. 3. Laghima— by which they can make their bodies very light. 4. Garima, by which they can make their bodies very heavy. 5. Sakama- Rupitva by which they can at will adopt any
forms, and any number of bodies at one time. 6. Vashitva – by which they can bring others under subjection.,
7. Ishitva by which they can exhibit superiority. · 8. Prakamya—power to act as they desire.